Azerbaijan
by Samad Vurghun (1906-1956 )

Father of writers Yusif and Vagif Samadoglu


(Excerpts)

Men know that you are mine by birth:
My nest, my refuge and my hearth,
My mother, native land, dear earth!
Sever soul and body? Death but can,
O Azerbaijan, my Azerbaijan!

As mother to me, as child to you-
Such is the bond we ever knew:
I'd come back wherever I flew,
For you are my people, you-my nest,
My native birthplace ever blest.

***

A day that's free, a man that's free,
A spring like this invites a spree!
Seek out the shade of a plane tree
To spread a rug that's rainbow-spun-
And hail the country of the Sun!

***

Beautiful birthland! I was born
Together with freedom's dawn
Which crimson banners did adorn-
Life seemed one endless, joyous feast;
Gay songs and laughter never ceased.
Dear country-gate of the Ancient East.

Translated by Gladys Evans and published in Azerbaijanian Poetry: Classic, Modern, Traditional, edited by Mirza Ibrahimov. Moscow: Progress Publishers. No date [probably late 1970s], p. 285.

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