Woes Of Georgia - David Guramishvili

The Turks, Ossetians, Lekis, Persians,

Cherkez, Ghlighvis, Didos and Kists

Were ever Georgia's enemies,

Assaulting her with blood-smeared fists.

But soon at home domestic broils,

Quarrels and feuds arose like mists.

Brothers with brothers grappled. Thus

Did trifles cause mighty contests.

And as a cock that flies upon

Another cock, they turned to fight,

Strutted and glared and frowning sprang

On each other, and then in spite,

With unsheathed swords, they savagely

Dealt blows that fell to left and right.

Thus Georgia weakened and soon felt

The sting of Turkey's, Leki's bite.

What I have now to tell will make

Those who love us sad and the foe

Glad, for vile deeds will be disclosed,

Deeds that have brought our country woe.

Truth is a narrow road, yet I

Despise all flattery; and though

Many may be averse, I'll not

To canker-worms my honour throw.

Truth is eternal, yet its tongue

Wounds deeper than a sword; and who

E'er speaks the truth has oft to bear

The world's reproach and hatred too.

To stifle truth, or wrong conceal

With honied words of praise undue

Corrupts the world, and then do vice

And crime the steps of man pursue.

Woe was that day when the Osmanli

With swords that to the hilts were hued

With blood, ravaged the land, and o'er it

Cold-slaughtered human corpses strewed,

When crushing tyranny and havoc

Their deadly trampling feet pursued,

And black disaster like hot lava

Flowed over valley, hill and wood.

That day the wheel of fortune turned:

The foe defiled fair Georgia's throne;

By the foul might of infidels

Was Kartl-Kakheti downwards thrown.

The fox had eaten up the cocks.

The hens were left to weep alone.

The carrion crows that croaked above

Made them lament and loudly groan.

The wounded fall; the whole are seized

By foes and into bondage led.

The hearts that once to valour thrilled

Now like a woman's shake in dread.

Enfeebled are they and afraid,

For manhood true from them has fled,

And powers that befit a man

Sink in the mire and now are dead.

---

David Guramishvili (1705 - 1792) Georgia

Translated by Venera Urushadze

Source: Anthology Of Georgian Poetry translated by Venera Urushadze, State Publishing House of Soviet Georgia, Tbilisi, 1958 © by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes