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Feldek, Ľubomír: Sonnet on the Platoon Bird (Sonet o vtákovi čátakovi in English)

Portre of Feldek, Ľubomír

Sonet o vtákovi čátakovi (Slovak)

Na cestách Indiou som videl vtáka
čo v suchých dobách spáva nečinne
a s nežnou zlosťou doby dažďov čaká
Z nádoby neba vie piť jedine

Čátaka vtáka nepriláka mláka
hoci sa kúpe v nej tieň broskyne
Keď dažde nejdú v ňom je sila taká
že radšej múdrym smädom zahynie

Tá podobnosť Ach koho pripomína
Leviná hlava Čas sa nad ňou míňa
V jazmíne spí a prekrásne má sny

A dažde nejdú Jeho dažde nejdú
Tá podobnosť Spí tichý sluha smädu
Úbohy čátak Básnik bez básni


PublisherJediný slaný domov

Sonnet on the Platoon Bird (English)

On a journey in India I saw a bird.
During drought in idleness he dozes
and in tender rage waits for rains to burst.
Heaven alone may refresh him, he supposes.

The platoon bird has no liking for a pool
even when peach blossoms float in its shade.
If the rains don't come, he doesn't feel a fool,
preferring to perish parched and proud.

Oh, the similarity, oh whom does this recall?
An indolent head. On it time gently falls
It sleeps in jasmine, in lovely dreams is left.

And the rains don't come, his rains don't come.
Oh, the similarity. He sleeps thirsty, slavish, dumb.
Poor Platoon Bird, a poet of all his work bereft.


Source of the quotation100 Years of Slovak Literature, Vilenica

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