11th April is National Day of Poetry in Hungary, the birthday of one of the most important poets of the 20th century, Attila József.
Lullaby
The sky is letting its blue eyes close;
The house its many eyes closes, too.
The quilted meadow lies in a doze:
Go to sleep softly, little one, do.
The wasp and beetle are both asleep;
Their heads are down on their feet, and through
Darkness, a drone in the dark they keep:
Go to sleep softly, little one, do.
The tram has fallen asleep as well,
And while its rattling slumbers, too.
It tings in its sleep a little bell:
Go to sleep softly, little one, do.
The coat is sleeping across the chair,
The tear is sleeping where it’s worn through;
No more to-day will it stretch the tear:
Go to sleep softly, little one, do.
The ball and whistle are both at rest.
So is the wood where the picnic grew.
Even your sweets by sleep are possessed:
Go to sleep softly, little one, do.
All will be yours in the crystal ball;
You’ll be a giant, it will come true;
But just let your little eyelids fall:
Go to sleep softly, little one, do.
A fireman, soldier, herder of sheep,
You’ll be all three, and each will be you.
See, your mother is falling asleep:
Go to sleep softly, little one, do.
Translated by Vernon Watkins
