As part of the event, she was on-stage reading her translation of Lydia Koidula’s poem “The Arrival of Spring” (“Kevade tulek”). At 160 years old, this poem has not lost one whit of its vigour.
“The Arrival of Spring” was published in Lydia Koidula’s book Emajõe ööbik (“The Nightingale of the Mother River”) in 1865. Below is Hilary’s translation, and following that, the original poem.
“The Arrival of Spring”
Your reign is over, winter king!
Oh welcome, welcome, welcome spring!
Tree branches swell with springy sap
My full heart wants to sing and clap!
Stepping out, all green her clothes,
Young blossoming hope on the common goes
and once more in my ear is ringing,
marvellous, strange and such sweet singing!
Oh spirit, throw care from your mind,
throw your caution to the wind!
Like a bird with wings to fly
leave the earth, take to the sky!
You, who can cajole the blossoming bud
from the heart of the red rose briar shrub,
you, who can lighten burdens and pain
with youth and power returning again!
More darkness lies along the way
more grief will be the price to pay,
oh faith: greater than your virtuous will
your cry of love is greater still!
Oh let fly, let fly into the heart
the sacred strength of dawn’s new start
and hope! And from the fiery flame
a new Spirit must arise again!
//
“Kevade tulek”
So riik on lõpnud, ränge talve!
oh tere, tere, kevade!
Puuoksake taa paisub mahlast
ja laulud täitvad südame!
Nüüd rohelises riides kõnnib
noor lootus õits'ja vainu peal
ja jälle heliseb mo kõrvu
ta imelik, ta magus heal!
Oh hing, sest heida, mis sind koormab,
nüüd kindlal meelel hauda sa!
Kui linnuk'seks veel pead end muutma,
kes taevast mõedab tiivaga!
See, kes võis kibuvitsa põõsalt
neid punaõisi meelita',
see s i n d ka raske valu koormalt
saab noore jõule aitama!
Ja olgu tee sull' ka veel pime
ja olgu raske sinu süüd,
oh usu: suurem on ta heldus,
veel suurem tema armuhüüd!
Oh lase, lase südamesse
suurt suistepüha koitu sa
ja looda! Tuleleegist pead
ja Vaimust uuelt sündima!
