Small Swift, like black dagger Pulled from the breast of madness Invisible ship's sudden plunge Of anchor full of sadness Cathedral's celling dome Has caught her in its net A sentence carved in stone Spells unforgiving death Small Swift in church, her grave Like lightning shatters silence Fighting her way out so brave With fear so full of violence Small Swift – the sister of thunder Winged undertaker flying With all our heads here under So full of anxious crying. Small Swift – the sign from above Abstract symbol of mourning Trapped in the cold church’s coves The prayer and the warning. She won’t cut through lead and stone The silent existence’s shroud She can’t fly down on her own, For rescue she’s too proud. I gazed with horror gust Her freedom loss eternal, Small Swift a diamond of dust Sentenced to fate infernal. For the forever flying For never ever resting For constant miss of nesting Beauty as cause of dying …
My own poetic translation of Stan Borys song “Jaskółka uwięziona” (Trapped Swallow)
For best experience watch the youtube video of the best moder interpratation of the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdCmSt4798g