National poem

GREECE

In English

Ithaka

As you set out for Ithaka
hope the voyage is long,

full of adventure, full of discovery.

Laistrygonians and Cyclops,

angry Poseidon - don't be afraid of them:

you'll never find such things on your way

as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,

as long as wistful emotions

stir your spirit and body.

Laistrygonians and Cyclops,

wild Poseidon - you won't encounter them

unless they dwell your soul,

unless your soul raises them up in front of you.

Hope the voyage is a long one.

May there be many summer mornings when,

with what pleasure and joy,

you come into harbors seen for the first time;

may you stop at Phoenician

to buy fine things,

mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,

sensual perfume of every kind -

as many sensual perfumes as you can;

and may you visit many Egyptian cities

to gather stores of wisdom from their scholars.

Keep Ithaka always in your thoughts.

Your arrival is your destiny.

But don't ever hurry the journey.

Better if it lasts for years,

so you are old by the time you reach the island,

enriched with what you have gained on the way,

not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.

Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.

Without her you would have not sailed away.

She has nothing left to give you now.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka won't have fooled you.

This way, wise as you will have become, so full of experience,

you will have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.

Κonstantinos Kavafis

ROMANIA

In English

Sleepy birds

         by Mihai Eminescu

All those sleepy birds

Now tired from flight

Hide among the leaves

Good-night!

Only the spring whispers

When the wood sleeps silently;

Even flowers in the gardens

Sleep peacefully!

Swans glide to their nest

Sheltering among the reeds

May angels guard your rest,

Sweet dreams!

Above a night of sorcery

Comes the moon's graceful light,

All is peace and harmony

Good-night!

BULGARIA

In English

I am Bulgarian
           by Ivan Vazov

I am Bulgarian and strong
Bulgarian mother has born me
beauties and goods so many
make my native land so dear.

I am Bulgarian and love
our mountains so green,
to be called Bulgarian
is the greatest joy for me.

I am free Bulgarian
in place of liberty I live
everything native Bulgarian
I cherish, observe and adore.

I am Bulgarian and grow
in days so great in time of glory
I am son of land so wonderful
I am son of tribe of courage.