Memories Of Freedom

Memories of Freedom Bring sweet sadness to the exile’s heart And so lost liberty of mine I dream of thee. Never hast thou seemed to me So fresh and young And so surpassing fair As now in this foreign land. Alas! Alas! Freedom that I sang away Look at me from o’er the Dnieper, Smile at me from there. And thou my only love Risest o’er the sea so far. In the mist thy face appears Like the evening star. With thee, my only one Thou bring’st my youthful years. Before me like a sea— Hamlets fair in broad array, Cherry orchards, joyous crowds. This the village, This the people Who once as brothers Welcomed me. Mother! Dear old mother! Home of memories fond! Happy guests of days gone by! Who gathered there in days gone by Simply to dance in the good old way From evening light till dawn. Do sun-burned youth And happy maidenhood Still dance in the dear old home? And thou, sweetheart of mine, Thou heartsease of mine, My sacred, dark-eyed one! Still amongst them dost thou walk Silent and proud? And with those blue-black eyes Still dost bewitch the peoples’ souls? Still as of old Do they admire in vain Thy supple form? Goddess mine! fate of mine! How wee maidens Gather round thee, Chirping and prattling In the good old way.

Perchance, unwittingly, The children remember me, One makes a little jest of me. Smile, my heart! Just a little, little smile That no one sees. That’s all. I, worse luck! Must pray to God in jail.