Ivan Benak

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

Pjesme za djecu

Ide Božić i sveti Nikola i poklona nosi puna kola

Poems for children

Here Come Christmas and Saint Nicholas with a Cartful of Gifts

Kad sam bio tako mali,sad istinu da bi znali.To je bilo, djeco, lani,tad su bili sretni dani.

When I was so very small(here's the truth, I'll tell you all),that was, children, just last year,happy days of joy and cheer.

Na Badnjak smo sretni bilii božićni bor kitili.Stavljali smo sve ukrase,još jabuke i orase.

Christmas Eve, how glad were we,trimming up the Christmas tree!We hung baubles here and there,apples, walnuts, everywhere.

Pa od tate i od mame,dobili smo puno slamei na slami se valjali,preko noći i spavali.

Then from Mummy and from Dadlots of straw we children had;on the straw we rolled aroundand slept all night, safe and sound.

U božićnoj tihoj noći,Božićnjak je znao doći.Dok sam sladak sanak snio,poklone mi ostavio.

On the silent Christmas nightFather Christmas would alight.While I dreamed my sweet dreams, heleft some presents there for me.

Kad božićno jutro svane,pod borove gledam grane.Zato što sam dobar bio,lijepi poklon sam dobio.

When the Christmas dawn came round,'neath the boughs I searched the ground:since I had been very good,there a lovely present stood.

Neka vam je to na znanjei sada je takvo stanje,jer Božićnjak imai poklone dijeli svima.

So I'll have you all to know:even now it's still just so,Father Christmas does exist,and not one of you is missed.

Valpovo, 08.02.2014.

Valpovo, February 8, 2014

Translator's note. On Christmas Eve Slavonian families spread straw on the floor, and the children's presents were brought by Božićnjak, the "Christmas man", rendered here as Father Christmas. The Croatian title rhymes.