Pjesma Valpovu
A Poem for Valpovo
Tu mi žive preci od davnina.U pitomom kraju meni dragom,u ljepoti slavonskih ravnina,u Valpovu, u gradiću blagom.
Here my forebears lived since days of old,in a peaceful land so dear to me,where the fair Slavonian plains unfold,in Valpovo, gentle as can be.
Nekad davno, šume te kitile,Slavonijo, ponos srca moga.U krošnjama ptice gnijezdo vile,nadaleko hrasta čuvenoga.
Long ago with forests you were dressed,O Slavonia, my heart's own pride;in the treetops birds would build their nest,in the oaks renowned both far and wide.
Nestale su šume i lugovi,naokolo polje se razvilo.Zaoraše rala i plugovi,u tom raju Valpovo se svilo.
Gone the forests, gone the groves and trees,all around the open fields were spread;wooden ploughs and ploughshares turned the leas,Valpovo in that Eden made its bed.
Od te šume što je nekad bila,svu ljepotu i bogatstva svoja,igrajući kolo šumska vila,nama dala krasna perivoja.
From the forest that once filled the land,all its beauty, all its wealth and grace,the wood fairy, dancing hand in hand,gave to us a park, a lovely place.
Kad u parku ptice zapjevaju,nigdje nema tako lijepog kraja.Rodne njive plodove nam daju,to je dio zemaljskoga raja.
When the birds in the park begin to sing,there's no lovelier land beneath the skies;fertile fields their fruit to us will bring:this is part of earthly paradise.
Tek u ljetu kad sunce zažeže,zlatnog klasja puna je dolina.Sve je ravno dokle oko seže,to bogatstvo gledat je milina.
When the summer sun begins to blaze,golden wheat-ears fill the valley plain;flat the land as far as eye can gaze:what a joy to see such wealth of grain!
Dođe jesen i lišće uvene,dani kratki, a noć je velika.Kada mi se sklope oči snene,Valpovo je opet meni dika.
Autumn comes, the leaves fade, one and all,days are short, the nights are long and deep;when at last my sleepy eyelids fall,Valpovo remains my pride in sleep.
Valpovo, 03.11.1974.
Valpovo, November 3, 1974