My native land - my dear cradle

CONTENTS

1. Preface.
2. A legend of old Uman.
3. Eternal beauty of «Sofiyivka».
4. Poetry from the heart.
5. Ukrainian Christmas songs (carols) in translation into English.
 
Ukraine is our mother, our cradle. There is also our town in the cradle. It is in our native Cherkassy land. They speak here different languages but all of them respect most of all their Ukrainian one which is wonderful, sweet and tender like a snow-ball tree…
The peculiarity of the book is that much attention is paid to the town as a tourist centre which is situated in the heart of Ukraine. Аll the ways of Ukraine and of the whole world lead to our town. There is the project of “Old Uman” which promotes that.  And it’s very interesting to have the English version of Ukrainian Christmas folk songs (carols)and private  poems which were made by the English speaking guide of the world famous “Sofiyivka ”park, a teacher by profession who made a kind of  unusual work for our Cherkassy land, for the people of Uman and for people living abroad.
What is the book about? It’s the work of soul and brain of the author  who was born in Uman, who is a patriot of Ukraine. She is genetically connected with her family roots that’s why her poems reflect our past and present history keeping to the traditions of our Ukrainian people.
We want to wish the book to have the happy way to the souls of readers for them not to be indifferent to the fate of the native land.
We want to wish the author of the book to be happy and to have inspiration. Let there always be charity and the well of goodness in the souls of all people!

     Mariya Valdman – a philologist, a literary person, a former teacher.               
The head of the International Ukrainian Union of War Participants.

     Raissa Umanchyk – the teacher of the
     English language, school №3
The town of Uman, Cherkassy region, Ukraine




The melody of my heart.

I’m sure, I’ll find  the words
For you to be surprised.
I’ll take the harmony of songs
For dreams to be realized.
May people be happy under the Sun,
May all the families live,
Have bright emotions, goodness and fun
And God in the hearts to forgive…






The legend of old Uman.

By the field roadside on the tchoomak way from North to South there was a pub. The home—made whiskey “gorilka”, bread and cheese were sold there. They also baked some bread at the pub and made some beer. According to the legends of some old people living in Uman the road was crossed by many travelers: Tatars, Greeks and Turkish people, Kozaks and the people from Poland. The grand dukes used to visit the stony banks of the river Kamianka. They came here from everywhere to see the famous beauty of the woman Mariya by name who was the owner of the pub. Her beauty, her kind heart and merry character were charming. She was called gently “Manya”. A beautiful apple garden was planted near the pub. Her sole and figure were nice and clean like the apple in the garden. According to some stories the couple of Pototskys used to walk there and the plans of creation of the famous park were made just there.
All the thoughts and dreams of the travelers were taken by Manya. They were eager to drink the tasty water from Manya’s mug. The travelers stopped to rest at Manya’s pub. When they were asked where they have been the travelers used to answer:
“U Mani” (which means from Ukrainian: “At Manya’s”). So, the old town occurred to be named Uman.
From that time when the baby girls were born in that town they were mostly named Mariya in honor of the pride and glory of the town. The legend says those women had really good and kind hearts and also happy fates.
All the time there are the patrons of beauty. They appreciate it and the story of our town testifies that. The story of the town, of love and beauty.
The high price was paid for the town’s park; so much blood and sweat was given for the old times to speak to us! The old park reminds us not only about the beautiful woman to whom it was dedicated but also about the talent of the local people who lived here and built such a masterpiece. They were from different dynasties, they created marvelous palaces, ponds, cascades, the underground river Stix. The God has given them talent and hard-working character. They didn’t have fame at that time but the immortal park -“Sofiyivka”- has become the eternal fame for these people-the bright representatives of our glorious Ukraine.
 
ETERNAL BEAUTY


There are many places in the world which attract people and give them the chance to relax or entertain. But the dearest of all naturally is the picturesque corner of the native land. Speaking about Uman, an old town of Ukraine, one can’t help speaking about its beautiful “Sofiyivka” park.

The park was founded in early 1796 by a famous Polish count Stanislav Pototsky. It was a present for his beloved woman (Sofia by name) who was Greek by origin.

The history of the park is closely connected with the old Greek mythology; it was the main idea of the park which was put into practice by a famous Polish architect Ludwig Metsel.

In many world religions love is one of sacred categories. That’s why it occupies our hearts, gives us courage, self – sacrifice, hope and creative work.

Those were just the feelings seizing the count when he made up his mind to present his beloved woman with a unique gift to remind her of her Motherland. Every corner of the park gives the energy of love. All the stones and fountains, alleys and valleys, sculptures and pavilions, trees and bushes are filled up with atmosphere of magic beauty and love which involve you here just when you make your first step into the park.   

The melancholic feeling will not leave you even when you visit this place again and again…

The park makes you think not only about love, but about life in whole, its idea, its philosophy…

Many famous people have visited the park during its more than 200th year history. The fresh water of the park’s springs gave them inspiration for creative work. The attraction of the park is different in different seasons.

Eternal beauty, eternal love, eternal world…          




 
***
Various presents “Sofiyivka” gives us:
In spring we admire the young green grass,
In summer –the flowers of different sorts,
In autumn we just recollect our thoughts…
The park of the glory’s-
A beautiful art,
Eternal love story
Impresses my heart!
 
The well of Fate

Wherever I have walked or been
Remember I that lonely spring,
The spring of water – clean and fresh
It gives me force, rejuvenates my age.
The well is sacred, it is plain,
It cures my soul, my heart, my brain.
The more such wells and springs extend-
The better will be native land.
 
We have no the right to forget the happy ways and roads of our grandfathers and our    grandmothers. Our sacred duty is to remember their modes of life and traditions, to respect them and to cherish them.
The years of childhood and youth pass. Youth is like a muse for creative plans cherished by our school years. Our life enriches us with the memory of heart.
Sometimes our memory makes us return home, even empty home.
Sometimes dreams, only pleasant dreams give us a spark of hope to plunge into the past and the wings of new ideas appear.
We believe in ourselves, we believe in the energy of our native land, in our old traditions and ask ourselves: can we be indifferent towards the holidays of Christmas and Easter, towards the joy of life or towards the historical truth?
Neither our native Cherkassy region nor our fertile black soil or Ukrainian language can be without love from the heart. The history of Ukraine is like a rainbow. I’d like just to use the great respect of the memory to fill the past years with joy.
Every Ukrainian has the trust of memory and the beauty of soul which are stored in our genetically formed code.
Nobody knows when all the memory stored during many years of life will manifest itself for all the people of the world to see the great culture.
I want to glorify Ukraine and its people with the help of my work. I gave my heart and my soul to the book and I want my book not to be lost among the other books. Let the star of fate lead my book to the future!
 
Love Ukraine!

Love Ukraine with all your heart,
With Kozaks’ fame, with family art…
Plant the snow-ball trees again;
Arouse the people, arouse Ukraine!
Spend  holidays always in freedom and peace,
Respect old traditions, your land as it is!

 
The  God’s land.

I am from the land where
God lives,
And many presents
Us gives;
Harvests on fields,
Friends to live with,
Berries for taste,
Friendship to wait,
Freedom for bird,
Love to the Lord,
Art to the world.
Freedom is gold!
 
To my Cherkassy land!

My native land!
Cherkassy land!
Be proud of us,
Your life expands.
And give us wisdom,
Kind heart;
You are a wonder
The place of art.
Your talents
Are the treasure things,
So let them only
Here sing!
 
A talk with Taras

Give us your hands,
Oh, dear father,
By the Dnipro river.
We respect your name
Your thoughts,
We them always cheer.

Your Ukraine has woken up,
It’s going towards freedom.
The Sun and sky will give us luck,
Happy days and wisdom.

Pride be, father, of Ukraine,
Give your hands, be conscious
That your sons’ and daughters’ fame
Will be spread throughout oceans!

 
Don’t be sleeping, Yaroslav!

Don’t be sleeping, Yaroslav,
Keep away Ukraine
From indifference and horror,
From unlucky day!
Give your sons and give your daughters
Courage, give and force;
Give the Dnipro happy waters,
Give for future hopes.

Let my land
Like flower blossom
Every spring again;
Let the mother tongue eternal
Ring like Kozaks’ fame!
To Ukrainians living abroad.

Keep up your faith in Ukraine,
Don’t avoid it, come again!
Lend an ear to your heart,
Come back home together or apart!
Your Motherland for you is waiting,
The quiet song is being sung,
The stars on the Heavens’re merry playing,
And brighter, brighter shines the Sun.
On the native lucky land
We shall be united.
In a family, hand-in-hand
We shall live delighted!
 
God’s Blessing

Let’s be conscious
Having plot,
By the icon
Praying God.
Strong and fearless
Let us be,
Independence
Is to be!
Temple’s fragrance
Cures soul,
Praising God’s
My aim and goal.
Let’s for future
Think and work,
Let the hearts beat
Like a clock!
 
The whisper of old times.

A calling of heart I had once
For my native land;
Foreign countries are nice but
They are not for me as if it’s impossible
To be born twice and to live.
 
***
My written words
Would touch your souls,
They are for friends,
For kind goals.
The time has come-
Ukraine is singing,
A ray of Sun
For world is bringing!


I have no indifference towards everything that happens here. I have made the choice to be the guide on the native land because I live here, in our dear Motherland. Ukraine is singing folk songs for the sake of God, for the sake of Ukraine!
Let’s immortalize the old traditions of our ancestors for the sake of our country!
 
Bow to your Mother

Bow to your mother,
Very, very low,

It’s your relic,
Make her a bow!

Fill with joy
Your mother’s heart,

With your tenderness,
And art!

Guard your mother
All your life,

For your family
To be nice!
 
Vigilant Thoughts

I was born
To live so brightly,
As the shining star,
I was taught
To sing so nicely,
Like a bird so far…
I am proud
Of my country.
Heart is full of pain,
For my land – my dear cradle,
Which is named Ukraine.
I shall write all days and nights
About Ukraine,
I’ll express my vigilant thoughts
As much as I can!
 
To a poet

You were born for the sake of God
To write about the modern world!
You are a poet, let all here:
You are to write and to declare!
Your words will come to lots of souls,
They'll quickly reach the chosen goals;
Your words will help us to believe
In our force, truth, and to live!
 
A forest

Clean and fresh
Is a morning forest
With the singing birds,
Restless are sometimes
The feelings,
Restless are the thoughts…
Forests have unhappy fates
Being cut, abolished.
People are
To protect them.
People are astonished.

Let the forests
Be so green!
It’s an admiration!
Let the trees
Their rustling dreams
Tell us with impatience!
 
Disappointment.

We were thick and tired of life
Boring, false, not brave;
Disappointed we were
Working as a slave.
Even now we have in hearts
Bloody wounds for fame;
But we’re not afraid just now,-
Truth has won the game.
Disappointment has gone
Long and long away.
We shall fill with joy the home-
We shall build Ukraine!
 
Heard by the world

We are lucky being heard
By the God and world;
We are happy being watched
With warm eyes, not cold.

Be delighted, native land,
With your people and fate!
We were in the sea and now – on the strand,
For our future we work and create.
 
With happiness fill your house

With happiness fill your house,
Touch the flower of fate!
Amaze the world of chaos,
Make happy all your days!

Go along the road of life,
Kind be and pray,
Listening to the temples’ bells
Take your happy way!

A thorny life and thorny way
        Is the puzzle of your fate.
You have strong will
And courage in blood
To overcome the gate!
 
***
Every country has its size
And its mother tongue,
All the people have their state
And the Sun to rise.

Every language is to live
In the world of fame;
Every person is to be
  The patriot of fate.

It’s a shock when mother tongue
Exists in exile,
It’s a horror to be guests
In the native isle.


In the isle of pleasant rains,
In the isle of trends.
My industrious Ukraine
Is my native land.


We are eager to protect
Our mother tongue
From the evil, from the depth
Of the lie and fun.



We are fond of singing songs
Not alien but these,
That were sung by our mothers
And give us release.

Let’s be faithful, let’s be true
To the native tongue!
         Let the Motherland be happy
Under the rays of Sun!
 
We respect all the confessions of the world.

(The town of Uman is the world pilgrimage center of Khassidans movement)

        To Khassidans.

He was pushed by God to pray
In the world of Heaven.
Nakhman always used to stay
By the water praying…

And he wrote them an appeal,
He was kind, full of grace,
So, he ordered in his will
To visit this place.

They come here all the time,
They are very happy-
Their synagogue is fine
And the biggest temple.

So, the Book of life and death
All the time’s being written,
And the God will lead us there-
Just for us to meet him.
 
Merciful Indifference.

“Decorate your state
with good deeds and
give frank families to it.”

Mothers ask their sons to be healthy,
Ask them not to drink-
It is a merciful indifference.
In the sea don’t sink!

There is indifference elsewhere:
In towns, houses or state.
Indifference towards life is here and
It’s a horror,  the problem of today.

Ukraine – your mother- asks for the future.
Be active, courageous and clear!
Take lie away of life! It is the duty
For everybody who lives here!


Christmas

Christmas is the most solemn holiday, the holiday of joy and hope, of good thoughts. It is celebrated throughout the whole world. It is eternal and sacred.
At that night Jesus Christ has been born from the Bless Virgin Mary, he has been born in a cave, not at the king’s palace, in the town of Bethlehem.
Shepherds were the first to greet Jesus. They were told by an angel about that. The new star was showing them the way to the cave with the Baby.
The angry king Herod ordered to kill all the babies there. He was afraid of Bless Virgin Mary warned by the Angel about that. Together with Joseph they began to move. The Holy Family has become a hostage of the circumstances.
It was the family of Faith, Hope and Love. The name of Jesus Christ shined forever in his kingdom.
The birth of the God’s Son was glorified in “kolyadky”-Ukrainian Christmas songs(carols). It’s very pleasant for me to do my translation work now, in many years to praise them. Nowadays the Christmas songs are valuable. Perhaps it’s ordered by the Heaven and the Holy spirit…
 
Kolyadka(Ukrainian carol)
  a Christmas song

In the town of Jerusalem
A Wonder has lightened-
A little born Baby.
The world has brightened.
All the sky and the earth
And the children were brightened
So the trees and the flowers
Were with blossoms lightened.
And you, people, greet the Tsar-God,
Be without temptation!
Let us bow to the Father and His generation!
 
The Suffering Mother

The  Suffering  Mother
Was standing by the crucifix,
She was standing by the crucifix – crying was she.
Oh, my dear son,
Why are you suffering?
Are you really guilty,
Oh, my dear son?
I washed you with my tears,
I hid you from the enemies,
Now I’m alone for years
And now you are lost for me…
Nowadays it’s very important to keep to the dreams of our old generation, to realize them in our life.
It’s a pity our ancestors will not live their lives once again.
Let’s carry all their dreams into our future!
And you, world, pay attention to Ukraine! Many good things are being started here now. They need support. It’s very important for our sacred life.
I ask you to support our culture. The time is for the baton to be passed on to our children and grandchildren. Our сountry has its own relics and the time has come for them to be known for other people.
 
Kolyadka(Ukrainian carol)
  a Christmas song

Wonderful news, wonderful news:
Bless Virgin Mary has given birth to a child in Bethlehem!
Not at the king’s palace
But among the cattle,
In a desert, in a desert,
One shouldn’t know about that.
The God’s truth is-
Bless Virgin Mary sings
To her Child, to her Child-
She wishes him to be strong,
To be Creator and to live long,
For all the people to be happy
In his kingdom forever, and after the death,
And after the death eternal life to have!
 

Kolyadka(Ukrainian carol)
  a Christmas song

Good Evening Mister Master!
Good evening and be glad,
Be glad the whole land!
The God’s Son has been born!
Lay the tables at the dawn!
Good evening and be glad,
Be glad the whole land!
Put the bread, the bread is sweet,
It is made of the spring wheat.
Good evening and be glad,
Be glad the whole land,
The God’s Son has been born!
The three holidays are coming,
They are merry, bright and charming.
 


Good evening and be glad,
Be glad the whole land!
The God’s Son has been born!
Christmas’s the first holiday,
We are having it today.
Good evening and be glad,
Be glad the whole land!
The God’s Son has been born!
And the second holiday
Is the Saint Basil’s Day.
Good evening and be glad,
Be glad the whole land!
The God’s Son has been born!
Saint Epiphany is the third one,
It is cheered by everyone.
Good evening and be glad,
Be glad the whole land!
The God’s Son has been born!

 
Kolyadka(Ukrainian carol)
  a Christmas song

The New Joy has come,
From the Heaven has come,
The new star has shined above the Cave.
Jesus Christ was born,
From the Virgin born,
Like a man he is wrapped lying in the Cave.
The shepherds with the lambs are kneeling,
The Baby, as the God, they are cheering.
Oh God, our Lord,
Give us happy times, happy days,
Happy years, happy ways!
Happy years, happy days to all the families!
At the table
Have your bread!
Have your cattle
At the shed!
Long live Mister Master,
Don’t be sad!
 
Shchedrivka(Ukrainian carol)

(Another kind of Christmas Ukrainian songs)

“Shchedryk, shchedryk,” -
 Is a Christmas song;
Swallow flew and sang upon
Masters house, master's shed:
"Look around and be glad!
Have good lambs and sheep and horse,
Have much money in your purse;
Have your wife like a charming queen!"
"Shchedryk, shchedryk," — swallow sings!

***

Let the corn be sown again;
Let your happiness come and fame;
Let New Year be on Earth;
Let all have good mood and health!
 

***

"Shсhedryk, shсhedryk, shсhedrivoсhka," -the
Christmas swallow sang a song
Cheering people at the dawn.
Happy Christmas, happy days,
Health and happiness always!
Let your family live in peace!
Have good harwest in your fields,
Better life and merry rest
All the Year!
All the best!
 

On the Jordan river

On the Jordan river
The water was quiet and calm,
Bless Virgin Mary
Was washing her Baby -
              The Baby of Sun,
She wrapped him with silky sheet,
Her Holy Baby is nice and sweet.
Grey bulls were standing,
Young angels were flying,
They took Jesus on their wings,
And flew up together with the winds.
 

***
A wonderful town
And great inner thoughts…
Miraculous temples-
The prayers are lots!