Dirge for a Young Man

Translated by Benjamin H. Jackson

Andonis married.
Andonis chose a woman.
He made the stone his in-law,
He made Darkearth his wife.
And all the field’s dark pebbles
His brothers and his cousins.

Oh, wall and ghost,
Brave boy, chosen brother.
No one came close to you
In beauty or in build.
Silk umbrella so many
Of us used for shade.
Arrogant boy.
Our lightning eagle.
Once and forever wreathed
Groom of terrible death.
Unjustly-slain-of-ours,
Our dipped-in-blood.
No cause, no reason,
No wish for killing.
Oh, wall and ghost.
Brave boy,
Ah, chosen brother.