eXchanges Journal of Literary Translation: The University of Iowa

Kolomya Regimen in Paris. 1815¹

just palace the arch of triumphs
we half-plucked roosters deplumed hobos
marching victoriously aptly
sing coarsely much like our supply wagons

glory to our generals and to our grooms be glory
thank God we have passed through lands and hells
there beats our banner torn into bootstraps
a hundred fortresses taken
with vigor that stayed on us
like a thirsty spell

peace like myrrh print newspapers
all wars are finished
no more cannons gleaming
and from the arks of balconies
grisettes gnarl at this burnt-faced military

this is us having marched through fields and battles
we have brought our bullets songs knapsacks
we’ve been painted with sabers so you can almost
see through one wound
            to the next
                        to the next

this is us camping out in the middle of paris
islands swim down the river the versailles waltzes
the war is finished wine comes in uncounted barrels
a maple leaf spins little in the seine’s water
we carry our memories like our trumpets
we shall cross again seven lands
and wash ourselves clean
will we ever come back
                                    the capital of our wonting
kolomya pysanka kolomya our city

¹Ukrainian regimens participated in the Russian army’s defeat of Napoleon. This was perhaps the last time within the Russian Empire that Ukrainians were allowed a military incarnation of their national identity.
- Translator’s note.


КОЛОМИЙСЬКИЙ ПОЛК У ПАРИЖІ. 1815 палаце правосудний тріумфів арко обскубані когути плюмажні офіри машируючи під арков переможно шпарко співаємо хрипко немов обозні фіри слава нашим генералам конюхам слава слава Богу пройшли-сьмо рим і Крим і півпекла в'ється в небі фана рвана як халява сто фортець добуто і згага запекла миром пахне як миртов лопочуть газетки же конець усім войнам же канони відблискали на ковчегах бальконів гризуться гризетки що то йде за вояцтво з обгорілими писками а то ми машируючи полями і битвами принесли свої кулі коломийки ранці розмальовані шаблями ніби бритвами світимося наскрізно рана на рані а то ми серед Парижу табором стали острови плинуть річкою вальсуй версале скінчилась війна і вина сім бочок сеною плине яворовий листочок пам'ять ніби сурму виносимо з бою сім держав перейдемо вмиємось чисто чи ж дійдемо до тебе столице нашого болю Коломиє писанко Коломиє місто		Kolomya Regimen in Paris. 1815¹ just palace the arch of triumphs we half-plucked roosters deplumed hobos marching victoriously aptly sing coarsely much like our supply wagons glory to our generals and to our grooms be glory thank God we have passed through lands and hells there beats our banner torn into bootstraps a hundred fortresses taken with vigor that stayed on us like a thirsty spell peace like myrrh print newspapers all wars are finished no more cannons gleaming and from the arks of balconies grisettes gnarl at this burnt-faced military this is us having marched through fields and battles we have brought our bullets songs knapsacks we’ve been painted with sabers so you can almost see through one wound to the next to the next this is us camping out in the middle of paris islands swim down the river the versailles waltzes the war is finished wine comes in uncounted barrels a maple leaf spins little in the seine’s water we carry our memories like our trumpets we shall cross again seven lands and wash ourselves clean will we ever come back the capital of our wonting kolomya pysanka kolomya our city ¹Ukrainian regimens participated in the Russian army’s defeat of Napoleon. This was perhaps the last time within the Russian Empire that Ukrainians were allowed a military incarnation of their national identity. - Translator’s note. >>>>
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