Venice masks

Saturday 7 October 2023

First Night - Zinaida Lazda

The soldier under earth shall joy in night -
A long good night!

How sweet the melody! How far from fear
It leads the soul, marked to be buried here,
That fought a fierce encounter at a death's portal
And scaled its vision of all that was mortal.

'What could it be that brought your heart to die?
And did you see it, soldier, with your eye?'
—'For my own peace I parted from this breath;
I saw it beckon in the eyes of death.
Peace, the good guardian, glitter like a star!
If I could live again, my soul's affection
Should see this battle won and Latvia's resurection!'

Earth in a handful falls. A chilly night.
The soldier's battle done,
A long good night!

Zinaida Lazda [pseudonym of Zinaida Sreibere] (1902 - 1957) Latvia
Translator not stated
Source: All Poetry

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