Granny Nat

My dear Granny, please, wait for me,
So kind and sweet — no one can be!
Just like before, I sit by your side
And hug you with my youthful might.

Upon your old sofa I take my seat,
At my “Granny!” you reply, “Yeah, my sweet!”
You weep because I'm so rarely near,
And I cuddle up to you, my Granny dear.

I take your gentle hands with all my caress,
My face is in your palms — no more distress.
I forget those days, so harsh and wild;
For a moment I flee and return to a child.

The gate creaks, and "Mistress!” reaches my ear.
“Bring us some bread and bacon lying near!”
Grandad shouts, "Granny is not here yet!
Look, how you’ve grown, fed on our bread!"

Before the gypsy could utter a mean word,
My lovely Granny rushed in and implored,
"Hush, don’t shout so loud, old man!
Here, some food for your gypsy children.”

"Gran! Why? Let them work! It’s a cheat!"
"It won’t cost me much, my Nattie, my sweet!
I want to share it; God grants me what I need.
Go to the yard, my birdie, and sweep it a bit!”

Along the river I run like in a dream —
"Where’re you, Gran?!" I loudly scream.
I rush into her arms, almost making her fall,
So she says, "Please, hush, my little doll!"

How I am happy with your gentle ways,
And with your patient love, so boundless.
Sometimes I’m a hedgehog — a sharp soul,
But you’re tender; you aren’t angry at all.

We gather striped beetles from potato plant,
And in the evening you say with a pant,
 "I want to take a rest, I’m just a little faint..."
I twitch my shoulders in reply, “I ain’t!”

Once again I do your gray hair in a plait.
My dear Granny, wait a moment, just wait.
We go outside to admire the evening glow,
And, my pretty, you talk as the words just flow!

"Gran! I'm scared! I want to hear you praying!
Who’s saving me until dawn, while I’m lying?"
The night brings its dreams to show...
The Granny’s voice begins to sound low.

"Gran! The sun has bitten my skin!” —
"Let me rub your shoulders with sour cream.
By the window you should’ve taken a seat.
Oh, Nat, you’re totally sunburnt, you see?!"

"Oh! Gran! I want to give the calf a stroke!" —
"Watch out! He's kicking, he's big and strong!
Look, Nat, the day is soon over, it’s growing dusk —
You’d better go home and wash yourself, I ask”.

"Gran! I'm hot! Have you opened the window yet?
Graaan! Will you rub some garlic on my bread?
Graaan! Can you shell a handful of seeds for me?
Gran! Tell Grandad so that he wouldn’t get angry!

And can you remember this song, Gran?
“There lived a boy and stepmother”, you sang.
That she was so evil and burned him alive.
Will God punish her for that boy’s life?

Tell me, Gran, is this truth or not at all?
About Christ, about Judas's betrayal,
And about all the wonders in the Gospel...
What proof is there? Can you tell?!"

 "I hug you, dear Nattie”, it stands in a letter.
“May God bless you and give you His shelter!
And I kiss you, my birdie, many times, so many,
And I wait for news from you. Your Granny.”

And you keep waiting, but I don’t know when
I’ll get to you, I’m lost in the daily rush again.
To reach the star I saw in a dream yesterday
Is timed not by us; nobody knows His way.

Why are you so special? I can’t conceive it.
That light in your eyes is warm and splendid.
I don't understand your mystery, my dear,
For me you can always find the words of cheer.

You are Gran Nat, my sweet, my sunny light,
I am Nat, your darling, a part of your heart,
Now you are free! And I walk on the ground.
Forever you flew away, you live on a cloud.

You would’ve sung many songs and even more,
And told me your stories which I would adore.
I would find a magic ladder that’s so long,
And climb up to heaven to which you belong.

Nothing can return your eyes; it’s all in vain —
Not streaming with tears, nor feeling this pain.
I say to all earthly meetings, now and forever,
“I miss you, my Granny, so kind, ever!”

December 2025
_________
Оригинал: Наталья Грэйс, "Бабушка Наташа", 2004