Ivan Benak

pučki pjesnik · folk poet  ·  Sopje 1933. – Valpovo 2015.Sopje 1933 – Valpovo 2015

Umirovljenički jadi

Članovima Udruge matice umirovljenika D. Miholjca

Pensioners' woes

To the Members of the Pensioners' Association of D. Miholjac

Dragi moji prijatelji,časno društvo Miholjčani,ja vam želim dobro zdravlje,bilo bolje nego lani.

Dearest friends of mine, you all,honoured Miholjac folk, so dear,I wish you good health, and betterthan the health you had last year.

Topli pozdrav Vama želi,ostvarenje Vaših snovai uspješni rad skupštine,pjesnik Ivo iz Valpova.

Warmest greetings he sends you,dreams fulfilled, and may it gowell with your assembly's work:Ivo, poet of Valpovo.

Sve čestitke idu vama,u protekloj godiniciza uspješan rad udruge,časnoj Miri predsjednici.

All congratulations goto you for the year you've spent,for the club's successful work,honoured Mira, president.

Aktivan je bio do sad,svaki uspjeh vašeg rada,još revnija neka bude,u svom radu nova Vlada.

Every triumph of your workhas been active till today;may the new Government bekeener still in every way.

U proteklom svome mandatu,marljivo ste se trudili,takmičenja sa društvima,dobre rezultate dali.

All throughout your recent termyou have laboured hard and true;in the contests with the clubsyou've brought good results home too.

A PJEVAČKI ZBOR vaš slavno,vaš je ponos, vaša dika,sa opojnim svojim glasom,oni su vam časna slika.

And your SINGING CHOIR, renowned,is your pride and your delight;with their captivating songthey present an honoured sight.

Bili sretni i veseli,zdravo tijelo održali,a penziju vašu dragu,mnogo ljeta uživali.

May you all be glad and merry,keep your bodies sound and strong,and enjoy your precious pensionmany summers, well and long.

U životu vašem dragom,ne bilo vam nikad krivo,ne tražite vrata raja,to vam želi Benak Ivo!

Through the dear life that you lead,may you have no cause to rue;don't go looking for heaven's gate:Benak Ivo wishes you!

Valpovo, 03. 06. 2010.

Valpovo, June 3, 2010

Translator's note. A greeting to the association's assembly in Donji Miholjac. He jokingly calls the newly elected committee the "Government" (Vlada); "don't go looking for heaven's gate" is his standing wish that his fellow pensioners not hurry into the next world.