Over the white lea,

The winter’s chill sea,

In silence

And amid my cares,

Over my happiness

And my pain, yes,

As the months pass

And the years,

It flies, it quivers

And, ineffable, shimmers,

Shining black in the sky

Of my nativity –

My single, solitary,

Soundless company,

My one and only

Star of destiny.

I pray to it,

I’m scared of it.

I try to avoid it

Altogether.

The time will come when

I will stop and then

Under its starry gaze

Sleep forever.

And whenever I stray

On paths faraway

Where beasts left

Tracks in the snow

I am scared no longer,

Amused no longer –

No more trouble

No more woe.

The songs around

Have lost their sound

And instead of songs:

The crunch of spines.

In my beloved country

Before spring comes finally,

Through my prison bars

You still shine.