Дмитро Павличко "Два кольори"

[Arthur Kalmeyer]

TWO COLORS
DMYTRO PAVLYCHKO

While still a boy that spring
I craved to see the world
And mother stitched my shirt
With red and black thin threads.

Embroidered on my shirt
And on my soul since then
Two colors - red is love,
Black is eternal sorrow.

My roads, obscure sometimes,
Took me away from home,
Through sad and joyful ways
Like mother's sowing art.

And when gray hear has struck
Me on my road back home
I brought with me old canvas,
My life embroidered on it.

Those colors now are mine
Forever on my soul
The red one is my love
And black is still my sorrow.