Vojnikova majka

iz knjige Stihom kroz život (2010.)

The Soldier's Mother

from the book Through Life in Verse (2010)

Muško sam čedo rodila,njegovala ga i mazila.Nad njim bdila i strepila,u igri njegovoj,uz osmijeh njegovsretna sam bila.

I bore a son and held him tight,I nursed and cuddled my delight,kept watch and trembled through the night;in his every game,in his every smile,my heart was light.

Tisuću devetstodevedeset druge,U selo je došlagrupa vojnika.Gordo je stao uz Satnika.Pogledom sam ga ispratilai suze lila,suze tuge i radosniceza mladog vojnika.

In nineteen hundredand ninety-twothere came to the villagesoldiers in a line.Proud, by the Captain, stood that son of mine.With my eyes I saw him goand let my tears flow,tears of sorrow and of joyfor that young soldier of mine.

Jednog dana dođe,tužna vijest iz daljina,o smrti moga sina.

Then one day there camesad news from far away, which saidthat my son was dead.

Dok sam ga u mislima,na posljednji počinak ispraćala.Rane me njegove pekle,u bolnim grudimaćutala sam metke.

As I, within my thoughts,was walking him to his last resting place,his wounds were burning me;in my aching breastI felt the bullets.

Ubiše mi sina,od osamnaest godina.Život je izgubio u boju,braneći domovinu svoju.

They killed my son,eighteen years beneath the sun.He fell in battle, making a stand,defending his own native land.

Da odnijeti mogustručak cvijeća svježi.Barem da znademgdje mu tijelo leži.

If only I could bringfresh flowers, a small bouquet.If only I knewwhere his body lay.

Iskreno te, Gospo,ja za pomoć molim,pomozi da nađemsina koga volim.

Our Lady, with all my heartI pray for help from above:help me, that I may findthe son I love.

Valpovo, 20. 05. 1998.

Valpovo, May 20, 1998

Translator's note. Written in 1998 about the Croatian War of Independence (1991–95), which Croatians call the Homeland War. Many families never learned where their sons were buried.