Elviri Bočkaj, učiteljici iz Sopja
Occasional verse and dedications
To Elvira Bočkaj, Teacher from Sopje
Poštovana Elvira!
Esteemed Elvira!
Od pedeset prvog ljeta,ja u Sopju nisam bio,ali sada sam u školidivnu radost doživio.
Since the year of fifty-oneI had not come Sopje's way;but now, at the school, I feltwondrous joy upon this day.
Lijepo ste me dočekalii ljepotu srcu dali,zato moja knjiga malamjesto mene kaže HVALA!
You gave me a welcome bright,filled my heart with beauty's light;so this book of mine, though small,says THANK YOU in my place for all!
Knjigu ovu pročitali,ljepotu si darovali.Bez dosade i bez tremeugodno Vam bilo vrijeme.
May you read this book, and findbeauty's gift to please your mind;free of boredom, free of fear,may your hours be pleasant here.
U čitanju nek' Vam knjigapruži radost i veselje.Stvarajući ovu knjiguto su bile moje želje.
In the reading, may this bookbring you gladness and good cheer;as I wrote this book, that wasall I wished, with heart sincere.
Bili sretni i veseli,od srca Vam autor želi!
May you be happy, merry too:the author's heartfelt wish for you!
Valpovo, 23. 03. 2011.
Valpovo, March 23, 2011