PARTING. The guy leaves for the war ...

THE GUY GOES FOR THE WAR ...

Old English ballad.

Author's poetic translation Vladimir P. PARKIN.
Excerpt.
*****

The guy goes to war ...
Do not spare yourself, mother!
You are on a long journey, as in old times,
Pour him some honey!

Put in the pouch
And goose, cheese, since there is.
Read the Lord's Prayer
And do not drive the brides.

There are many beauties waiting for the crown ...
You and I don’t know
What grew up in grandfather and in father
The only son!

Zhenya rather well done.
There’s time for the wedding.
Let the boy have no father,
But there will be a kind father-in-law!

You will have a daughter
Then a grandson will be born,
And there will be a complete family,
When the war ends
And the son will return ...
All of a sudden?!

*****
London, 2003. Moscow, 2020.

Illustration. Artist Vladimir P. Parkin.