Petro Ruh's Poems Translated to English
* * *
Like happy baby`s eyes are eyes of love,
So kind and wonderful and clear,
With golden sparks of sunlight from above,
Evoking feelings, pure and sincere.
PURPOSE OF EDUCATION
Not knowledge, only love is education's aim
'cause knowledge without love will ruin our world.
From childhood we must learn this subject day by day —
so that we could perceive true meaning of this word.
* * *
Life isn't outside, it's inside,
It's in your heart's incessant flow,
Just wait — and everything will pass
But soul's vibrations will not go.
Slaves of the world and its events
Are miserable; they will never fly.
So bring good actions out of treasure of your heart
Why should you waste your time on other thing? Oh why?
* * *
We all depend on world's eternal fighting,
Though independence is always praised by men.
But if we totally depend on God Almighty,
He liberates us and the world will not enslave us then.
* * *
It's neither victory nor a heroic deed —
your wicked foes to crush and overpower.
True winner makes his enemies, indeed,
his friends — by God's benevolence and power.
* * *
Life's beautiful and simple, brother,
That's if you treat it in a simple way,
But if you blame it for your failures,
Its simpleness does fade away.
You think you know what's wrong and right
And how to change your evil neighbor,
But is this vain Quixotic fight
Bequeathed by our good Creator?
All world's phenomena have sense,
As natural as streaming light
Or, like a smiling face of God,
Full of harmonious delight.
Don't be so critical of others —
Enrich your life with selfless love,
Be good to all without exception
And God will bless you from above.
So leave in peace the windmills, brother,
It's time to stop this senseless fight —
And fill the life that whirls around you
With love which dwells within your heart.
IN GOD'S TEMPLE
To God are turned all thoughts and actions,
Heart's silent prayers, words and eyes,
For hope and faith live here in temple
And also pure love resides.
Translated from
Ukrainian by Halyna Koshulap