Nothing Can Be Hidden

Two lovers kissed in a meadow
They thought no one saw them
The green meadow saw them
Told the white flock
The flock told its shepherd
The shepherd told a traveller
The traveller told a ferryman
The ferryman told his walnut boat
The boat told the cold water
The water told the girl ’s mother
The girl was furious

“Meadow, may you never be green!
White flock, may wolves eat you!
Shepherd, may the Turks hack you down!
Traveller, may your legs rot !
Ferryman, may water carry you off!
Ferry-boat, burn! Water, dry up!”

The Dark Country

Once upon a time, there was a king who came with his
army to the end of the world, and went into the dark
country, where you can’t see anything. He left the foals
of the mares he had with him on the other side, so the
mares would be certain to lead them back.

When they went into the dark country and were
moving through it, they kept feeling small stones under
their feet. Something called out from the darkness “He
who takes some of these stones will regret it, and he who
takes none of them will regret it.” Some of them thought
“Well, if I regret it, why bother?” Some thought “Well,
why not take one, at least?”

When they came out of the dark, they saw these were
precious stones. Those who took none regretted they
hadn’t taken any; those who took some regretted they
hadn’t taken more.
 

A delightful selection from one of the richest traditions of folk literature in Europe. The universal qualities of these poems, stories, riddles and proverbs will appeal to a wide range of readers, including children. Since Yugoslav folklore is so much a part of Vasko Popa’s own poetic world, readers of his poetry will find the book especially rewarding for the insight into his sources which it provides.

In making his original compilation, Popa followed his own poetic taste, gathering pieces he himself loved, and finding ‘great joy in bringing the little-known and undervalued beauties of old riddles, proverbs, spells and counting-rhymes out of the shadows into daylight.’ Translatability has been the key factor in making this English selection, which is illustrated with traditional Serbian rug motifs. The vitality of Popa’s material is wonderfully conveyed in this adaptation by Andrew Harvey and Anne Pennington.