PASTELS
by Pavlo Tychyna, 1917

I
A ray of sun runs
Look --
it's dawn!
It sits, plays,
Opens the eyes of the chamomile.
And in the east the sky is fragrant.
Roosters stitch the dark night
With fiery threads.
-- The sun --
A ray of sun runs.

II
The iron day
drank fine wine
Meadows, bloom! --
I, day, come
Herds, graze!
...to my loved one -- day --
cradling cradles!
... during the day.
The iron day
drank fine wine.

III
Flutes swayed
where the sun set.
Evening approached
on tip toe.
He lit the stars,
sent mists into the grasses,
held his finger to his lips, --
and laid down.
Flutes swayed
where the sun set.

IV
Cover me, cover:
Me, old woman night,
I'm not well.
My dark journey
has always been in dreams.
Bring me some mint here,
Let the poplar rustle.
Cover me, cover:
Me, old woman night,
I'm not well.

ty-pastl.doc 7/17/90