| Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22. | | | | Parting | | By Florence Randal Livesay, trans. |
| | From “Old Folk Songs of Ukraina”
I SHALL die, my love, I shall surely die; | |
| Then make for me, my love, a coffin of cedar. | |
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| I cannot make thee, sweet one, a coffin of cedar! | |
| Thou must lie, Mila, O my dear, in one made of fir. | |
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| Bury me, dear one, in a grave deep in the cherry orchard; | 5 |
| Plant by my head a little creeping berry. | |
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| And when the one who parts us takes thee by the arm, | |
| As thou walkest through the cherry orchard— | |
| The one who parts us walking with thee— | |
| Thou shalt summon me from my grave: | 10 |
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| “Oi, arise, my dear, rise up—look around! | |
| See thy cattle wandering through the wide world!” | |
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| “Oh, let them go; and if ever they assemble again, | |
| They shall nevermore see the mistress they knew.” | |
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| “Oi, arise, my love, arise, look round about! | 15 |
| Thy children already are scattered and gone to work.” | |
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| “Oh, let them go!—and if ever again they meet, | |
| Their mother indeed and indeed they shall never see.” | |
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| “Oi, arise, my love, my Milasenka, arise! | |
| For thee thy youngest child cries, for thee she weeps.” | 20 |
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| “Oh, let her cry!—she will soon cease. | |
| Whosoever once dies, does not rise from the grave.” | |
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| “Oi, arise, my love, my Chornobriva, arise! | |
| Lo, the flower I planted has bloomed at thy head!” | |
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| “Oh, let it bloom, let it bloom, let it bloom in full flower! | 25 |
| Whosoever once dies—lo, she rests in the grave.” | | | | |
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