Centre for Romanian Studies

My Son

Here is his little cambric frock
That I laid by in lavender so sweet,
And here his tiny shoe and sock
I made with loving care for his dear feet.

I fold the frock across my breast,
And in imagination, ah, my sweet,
Once more I hush my babe to rest,
And once again I warm those little feet.

Where do those strong young feet now stand?
In flooded trench, half numb to cold or pain,
Or marching through the desert sand
To some dread place that they may never gain.

God guide him and his men to-day!
Though death may lurk in any tree or hill,
His brave young spirit is their stay,
Trusting in that they’ll follow where he will.

They love him for his tender heart
When poverty or sorrow asks his aid,
But he must see each do his part —
Of cowardice alone is he afraid.

I ask no honours on the field,
That other men have won as brave as he —
I only pray that God may shield
My son, and bring him safely back to me!

by Ada Tyrrell (1854-1955)
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Fiul Meu (My Son)

Aici ii tin camasa de copil
Si pantofiorii ce i-am crosetat
In levantica cu parfum  subtil
Cu dorul meu adanc, si neuitat

Ii strang aceste-odoare l-al meu piept
Si imi inchipui micul copilas
Fiind leganat  in somn, incet, incet,
Si incalzindu-i corpul dragalas.
.
Dar azi, unde ti-e trupul de barbat?
Prin ce coclauri fugi neistovit
Sau poate in desertul necrutat
Te-ndrepti spre teluri de necucerit?

Indruma-i, Doamne, pasul in razboi
Caci moartea l-ar tanji necontenit
Curajul lui va fi indemn la toti
Sa il urmeze pana la sfarsit.

Tovarasii de arme, cutezand
In focul luptei sunt uniti cu zmei
Caci datoria e un lucru sfant
Si frica-n san nu-si are locul ei.

Nu ceru-Ti, Doamne, miluiri ceresti
Ce alti viteji ca el le-au meritat.
Doar rogu-Te baiatul sa-mi pazesti
La vatra sa-l intorci nevatamat.

[in Romaneste de Constantin Roman, August 2009-August 2010,
din originalul in limba engleza a poetei Ada TYRRELL (1854-1955)]

(Romanian  translation Copyright 2010: Constantin ROMAN)

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Dublin-born Ada Tyrrell was a life-long friend of George Bernard Shaw. She was the wife of the distinguished Trinity College Dublin classic scholar and Regius Professor of Greek, Robert Yelverton Tyrell (1844-1914).

She was a great society hostess in Dublin, reputed for her intellect, beauty and goodness which made her Dublin Salon sought  by the great and the good of the time:  politicians, artists,  literati.