Rusyns Of The World, Join Hands! / O, Our Carpathian Land!...

To the Rusyns of the world, to the Rusyn people I dedicate...

by Professor Mychayl Pavuk, Bratislava, September 1994


O, our Carpathia,
Beautiful as a flower, filled with goodness!
You are beloved by the Rusyn, -
for you were given to us by God!....


'Tis said Rusynia has a purpose
Good people in an earthy paradise!..
And Rusyns at this time? Their ranks have been reduced!
But looking ahead, they prepare for freedom!...

...The stepmother has been judged evil.
She bound us hand and foot
and forbade us to think,
she deprived us in every possible way.
Rus' was old Carpathia,
Later...SubCarpathia, -
Rusynia, historic Ruthenia,
Once a flourishing country!

Our mother embraced us,
the evil stepmother did not...
Just as there are in the forest bear, fox and wolf,
at home we were sure of stepmother's beatings, lessons!...

The Rusyns were peaceful and industrious -
As God's children, brothers and sons!
They once welcomed Cyril and Methodius
with bells and choirs

It was a joyous, happy good fortune -
Bread and salt! What's ours is also yours!
The Word of Holy Scripture resounded
as the word of our own mother.

To my Rusyn forefathers
I offer my heart and soul.
And Glory to You Most High God,
Everyone will help the Rusyn people.

It is never too late to perform worthwhile deeds:
They always end well.
So say the Slovaks, Czechs, Slavs, -
This is believed by Rusyns everywhere!


Rusyns of the world join hands!
Seek freedom in our native land!
In unity there is strength! Revival of the people!
There is a Rusyn spring-time - sunshine and liberty!

O, our Carpathian land,
Like a beautiful flower, filled with good!
A world filled with Rusyns,
Given to us by God!...


Our modern Rusyn poets have been the source of some of the most vibrant products of the worldwide "Rusyn Renaissance." We are privleged to have received original Rusyn poetry from Professor Mychajl Pavuk of Bratislava, Slovakia. Dr. Pavuk is a native of Korolevo nad Tysoju in former Ugoca County of Subcarpathian Rus', a small Rusyn town on the Tysa River. Although we have had his poems for over a year and a half, we have not had adequate space to give them their due - until now. We gave two C-RS members - John Timo and John Kelnock - a crack at the frightfully difficult task of translating this poetry into English while preserving some of the style of the original. We thank them both for their efforts, and we proudly present the first of their finished products above ----Rich Custer, Editor, New Rusyn Times


copyright © 1996 Carpatho-Rusyn Society

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Last modified on September 27 1997
URL:http://www.carpatho-rusyn.org/crs/junfeatr.htm
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