In memory of Vasko Popa
In Memory of Desanka Maksimović
I
Who shall wear shoots of grasses and corn
The fairest young woman that ever was born
And who shall wear spring flowers in her hair
The fairest young woman anywhere ?
Hey Dodie fetch her away
Peperuda Perperuna
Hey Dodie Dodie Day
II
Who shall be chosen as our Dodolka
Who shall be chosen as our rain maiden
Who shall be this year’s Ladaritsa
Guardian of cornfields and growing gardens
And who Perperuna the butterfly
Fluttering around iris blooms
Attendant on Perun Lord of Rain
Festooned in purple and white lilac ?
Hey Dodie fetch her away
Peperuda Perperuna
Hey Dodie Dodie Day
III
Who fairest young woman ever born
Shall wear pear blossom and sprig of hawthorn
Who shall be taught the secret speech
Of myrtle and poplar birch oak beech
And who blessed by lark and honey bee
Shall be revealed as woman and tree
And who’ll bring back our golden time
Adorned in leaves of maple and lime ?
Hey Dodie fetch her away
Peperuda Perperuna
Hey Dodie Dodie Day
IV
And who shall be our rainbow shaper
Gathering foxgloves from the hedgerows
Windflowers and bluebells from the spinney
Bending and twisting off fronds of willow
Evergreen laurel by the wayside
Sprays of black and white cherry in blossom
For garlands to bind into her hair
Wreaths to scatter onto the stream ?
Hey Dodie fetch her away
Peperuda Perperuna
Hey Dodie Dodie Day
V
Who’ll sway on a swing all night through
And at daybreak wash her face in the dew
Then with more daughters in her train
Dance for the clouds to send down rain
On thirsty fields and now and ever
Bless our work and hard endeavour
To bring in golden summer treasure
And count for us and weigh the measure ?
Hey Dodie fetch her away
Peperuda Perperuna
Hey Dodie Dodie Day
VI
And who’ll sew kingcups onto our river
Death-cleanser and life-giver
Who’ll thread lilies into our stream
For the souls we’d recall if we could and redeem
Who’ll braid peonies into our brook
One for each soul Death took
And with their petals embroider the water
Whose daughter whose daughter ?
Hey Dodie fetch her away
Peperuda Perperuna
Hey Dodie Dodie Day
VII
And who’ll drape lilac over our gate
To tell Death to hide and wait
Who’ll toss marigolds onto our roof
To offer life our living proof
And who will take a cross from the grave
Of a pauper a beggar or a slave
And dip it in clean running water
Whose daughter whose daughter ?
Hey Dodie fetch her away
Peperuda Perperuna
Hey Dodie Dodie Day
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