Sretan ti rođendan, sine!

iz knjige Stihom kroz život (2010.)

Happy Birthday, Son!

from the book Through Life in Verse (2010)

Ostalo je iza tvojih leđa,četrdeset četiri proljeća.Nek' sve patnje ostanu za tobom,cvjetala ti grana puna cvijeća.

Now behind your back already lieforty-four whole springtimes, every one;may your sufferings all stay behind you,may your branch bloom full of flowers, son.

Od rođenja, sve do ovih dana,pratila te u životu sreća.Sve što želiš nek' ti se ostvari,želja mi je od svega najveća.

From your birth right up until this hour,luck has walked beside you all the way.May whatever you desire come true:that's the greatest wish I have today.

Ne saznao nikada za tugu.Sve u sreći i bez bolnih rana,s najdražima svoje obitelji,proslavio mnogo rođendana.

May you never come to know of sorrow;all in happiness, and free of pain,with the dearest of your familymay you see many birthdays come again.

Radost svome pokoljenju dao,raj zemaljski podijelio s nama,sa njihove sreće, sreću brao,to ti želi: Tvoj tata i mama!

May you give your line a joy to keep,share earth's heaven with us, and be glad;from their happiness your happiness reap:that's the wish of your own Mum and Dad!

Valpovo, 30. 04. 2000.

Valpovo, April 30, 2000

Translator's note. For his son's 44th birthday. The son had started at the Valpovo health centre as an ambulance driver at 25 and still worked in the Osijek-Baranja County emergency service.