Greeting Poetry for Latvia's Celebrations
November is a true month of patriotism and national pride, when many pin a red-white-red ribbon to their coat lapel, light memorial candles for defenders of the fatherland, sing the anthem at festive events and recall historical happenings. These are not typical greeting-card-writing celebrations, but poetry also serves at these festivities, on Latvia's Commemoration Day and birthday.
I have gathered some, in my view, very beautiful lines of poetry suited to this festive season - 11 and 18 November. Perhaps they will be of use at some event or as a greeting.
***
We have received the bluest lake,
And the most richly rye-brown rye field,
The whitest birch grove,
The darkest loaf of dark bread.
And to Latvia precisely
Has fallen the most sacred of heaven's vaults,
For God has given us
His most beautiful land.
/Laimonis Vāczemnieks/
***
May God grant that we may always
Rush through ages and times
In an ever-living stream.
As sowing does not end and neither does harvest,
As the Daugava and Gauja do not rest,
May Latvians never cease to grow in strength.
/Leonīds Breikšs/
***
God, bless us for struggle! God, bless us for the ways of peace!
May we always count bright days for Latvia!
From the very seashore to the edges of foreign lands
May the ploughshare walk in peace over these fields we tended!
/Leonīds Breikšs/
***
Nu tōlōs Tōlovas, nu Jersikas jys nōk
Kai auseklis un gaiļa reita dzīsme,
Kai karūgs un kai pyura skreines vōks,
Kai vairūgs, kas myus pasorgoj nu brīsmem
Un acim kvālōt līk kai Jōņūs līsmem…
Nu tōlōs Tōlovas, nu Jersikas jys nōk –
Vystyvōkais nu vōrdim: Latvija.
/Andris Vējāns/
***
Latvia,
Our mother and sister,
With a white cloth
Wrapped, the colour of blood
In your flag,
Which through all time
Will wave in our courtyards
To a new and rich day,
Never, anywhere leaving anyone behind.
/Arvīds Skalbe/
***
Sit down, little sun, in a diamond throne,
Reign over Latvia's free hills.
Sit down, little sun, on the mountain of clarity,
Drive away the mist from groves and fields,
Dry the marshes, dry the ravines,
Show the people the path of clarity.
/Kārlis Skalbe/
If you know a beautiful verse, share it in the comments!
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