Poštovana Pavice
Occasional verse and dedications
Dear Pavica
Posložio sam natpiseod naslova Tvojih knjiga,da bi postala ova pjesma:
I have put together headingsfrom the titles of your books,so that this poem would come to be:
PJEVAM TEBI SLAVONIJO!DUŠA MOJA OTVORILA VRATA!SLAVONIJA U ZJENICI OKA!Oduvijek si dio srca moga.
I SING TO YOU, SLAVONIA!MY SOUL HAS OPENED UP ITS DOOR!SLAVONIA, APPLE OF MY EYE!You've always been a part of my heart.
Za književnost svoj si obol dala,Slavoniju dragu opjevala,mnoge pjesme njoj si isčipkala,i tri knjige u javnost poslala.
To literature you gave your mite with grace;you sang Slavonia, that beloved place,and many a poem for her you worked like lace,and gave the public three books to embrace.
Najsretnija u životu bilai kroz život divne snove snila.Puno svojih knjiga iznjedrila,čitateljstvu srcem podarila.
May you be happiest your whole life through,and all life long may lovely dreams find you;and may you bring forth many books anew,your heart's gift to your readers, warm and true.
Lacičima svoju mladost dala,s najdražima sreću uživala,svoje pjesme tu si rimovala,da bi Tebe Slavonija znala.
To Lacići your youth you gave, your own,with those most dear great happiness you've known,and there in rhyme your poems you have sewn,so to Slavonia you would be known.
Mnogo ljeta s nama se družila,u druženju pjesmice čitala,svoje knjige često predstavljala,prijatelje drage pogostila.
For many years with us your days you'd spend,and at our gatherings read your verses through,and often you presented books brand-new,and you would host and treat each dearest friend.
Te navike i dalje ostvari,a najdraže sa stihom podari.Svoju radost s drugima podijeli,od srca Ti Benak Ivo želi.
Keep up these habits, carry on, and stillgive verses to your dearest, as you will;and share your joy with others. For my part,I, Benak Ivo, wish this from my heart.
Valpovo, 29. 05. 2010.
Valpovo, May 29, 2010