Leopold Staff - "Burza nad głową" (The storm above my head)

It’s a very stormy period of my life now – it’s also a very stormy weather behind my window as I write this post. And because of that the choice of a poem for today seemed quite obvious to me :) I’m not sure if it’s possible to find an English version online. And anywhere else, for that matter. Once again, it’s just simple translation – don’t expect it to be perfect or rhyming. I’m definitely not there yet ^^

I love how fierce this poem is. I had it printed out in high school and sticked on the cork board above my bed. It makes you want to be better, and braver, and overcome all the obstacles that world throws at you. It’s like “Yep, you’re stronger. But quess what – I won’t go without a fight. I won’t surrender”.

Staff Leopold                                                  

Burza nad głową                                             The storm above my head

Niebo nad głową się chmurzy.                   The sky above my head is gathering.

Nadciąga wicher z nawałą.                         The gale and windstorm is about to blow up.

Już nie uniknę dziś burzy.                           I won’t escape from the storm today.

Grzmi? Nieraz mocniej już grzmiało.           It thunders? It had thundered a lot louder many

                                                                                                                 times before.

Strach przysiadł jak koń na zadach.         Fear has sit down on it’s rump, like a horse.

Świat jęczy jak przed porodem.              The world is groaning like before the birth.

Ziemia się trzęsie w posadach:                 Earth is shaking to its foundations:

Zobaczę, co jest pod spodem.                  I’m gonna see what’s underneath it.

Wszystko się w drzazgi rozleci.                 Everything will fall apart into pieces.

Ha, rozpętały się czarty!                            Ha, the devils are making a party!

Padł piorun! Drugi! I trzeci!                        The lightning has stuck! The second! And third!

Niech sobie gruchnie i czwarty!                 Let the forth strike too!

Wyzywam piąty oczyma!                            My eyes are summoning the fifth!

Głowy pod skrzydło nie chować!                 I’m not gonna hide my head under a wings!

Co? Serce me nie wytrzyma?                      What? My heart won’t make it?

Warto i tego spróbować.                             It’s worth to try that as well.

Rozpraw się, losie, zły biesie,                      Deal with me, evil fate,

W zaciekłej ze mną szermierce!                  In furious and stubborn fencing!

A jeśli serce nie zniesie?                              And what if my heart doesn’t make it?

To trudno! Ja albo serce.                             Tough! It’s either me or the heart.

I hope you liked it as much as I do. Do you feel motivated and adventurous yet?  :)

Till the next post,

Magdalena