Traditional (Palestinian)

Ya Taali’een el-Jabal [Oh, You Who Are Climbing Up the Mountain]

Oh, you who are climbing up the mountain

Oh, you, who send a signal by setting the fire

Between night and dawn, my soul

Neither do I want a robe of honor

nor do I want garments

Between night and dawn, my soul

Neither do I want a robe of honor

Nor do I want a zunnar belt

Between night and dawn, my soul

Oh, you who are climbing up the mountain

Oh, you, who send a signal by setting the fire

Between night and dawn, my soul

Except the gazelle (fedayeen) who are coming

for the jailed inside

Between night and dawn, my soul

Except the gazelle (fedayeen) who are coming

to free you

Between night and dawn, my soul

Oh, you who are climbing up the mountain

Oh, you, who send a signal by setting the fire

Between night and dawn, my soul

Translated from Arabic by Shaimaa Abulebda

Hildur Guðnadóttir (b. 1982)

Fólk fær andlit [“People Get Faces”]

miskun

mercy

fyrirgefið okkur fyrir

Forgive us for

Mariana Sadovska (b. 1972)

Chernobyl.The Harvest

I. The Road. Дорога

The widow walking through the valley,

Sat down to rest and to feed her small child.

Oh my son, my little one, where is your dear father?

II. The Harvest. Жнива

Spring wheat dreaming harvest dreams

So early in the morning dreaming harvest dreams

Dreaming harvest dreams

Calling to the master of the field

Oh master, brother dear

Here’s my harvest dream

Fragments of the evacuation announcements:

“Attention, attention!

In connection with the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plan, radiation conditions in the city are unfavorable...

to ensure the complete safety of people and especially children...there is a need for a temporary evacuation ….

Please remain calm and disciplined!”

III. Lamentation. Плач

She had to harvest the rye,

So she laid her babe in the field to sleep

Oh falcon, dear falcon, you fly so high

You fly so high and see so far

You fly so high and see so far

Can you can see my babe from where you are

Your babe lies by a haystack

By a haystack with his arms raised

Black birds are pecking at his side

Little black birds are pecking at his eyes

Sleep, my baby, lullaby, lull

Shut your little eyes

Mama is with you

Whispering prayers

Sleep, my baby, lullaby, lull

IV. Paradise. Рай

Oh, Master of the House

Paradise blossomed

In your home

Paradise blossomed, the Lord rejoiced

That the son of God was born on earth

In your yard sits a well

Where the Mother of God bathes her Child

But where is my son?

Translated from the Ukrainian by Virlana Tkacz and Wanda Phipps