He's Seen Roses by Solomiya Andrusiv

He's seen roses damasked, red and white,

Brocade and silk, steel and fur,
Diamonds, pearls, gold and silver,
Another kingdoms, traditions, cultures,
He tried odd spices, drank tea and rum,
Danced with timbrel around the fire
Singing overseas people’s songs.
And there is no country he hadn’t seen,
No kingdom without prints of his boots.
He’s almost a pirate - adventure seeker,
Who’s used to take all which sparkle and glitter
He can’t sit and rest, find place to stay
A thirst of adventure had driven him forward
And he had no chance to break
But here’s come the day when all changed forever
His life lost it's taste and nothing can help
When there's no place to surprise you
And nothing to save from the boredom
His bronze tanned cheekbones have slowly paled
And there’s no trace of salt in his hair
And curious glance is now faded and bored
He smoke and drank all days long in the tavern
And moored “Mary” has no hope for sailing

He’s never been in a big world,
but how much he knew about it,
So many poems, legends, ballads,
Fables, jokes and fairy tales.
He never crossed the borders
Of country he knew pretty well
The rover who walked from town to town
With his only friend behind his back
He’s been in the north mountain ranges,
He sang his songs on the hills in the west
And stomped along the tract having no direction
Strumming on a lute the melody of wind.
The favorite of girls and women everywhere
Who never has a sore throat and always in good mood,
The bard enchant the public with only voice and lyrics
Singing on the courtyard as payment for stay.
And suddenly decided to wet his feet in water
Of ocean that so far on the south lies,
He bright and early woke up and started his adventure
Carrying the lute and whistling funny songs.

The night quietly blanket the harbor,
A bard lightly pulls the strings of a lute,
The people in tavern are ready to listen
And songs are flowing and charming the rumor
About that lands he's not destined to visit.
And sadness breaks through a cheerful voice
As here like nowhere you hear the sound of surf
Calling quit this and sail into sunset.
You know, our fate is a pretty good joker,
However, all things have their time to happen.
Now lute is silent, but mugs full with beer
And fingers that used to skillfully play
On his wooden friend now look over the story of life
Of one man who's already seen everything.
And the next morning “Mary”' raises sails,
Her captain found the sense last night.
Though his eyes will never light up as they used to
He can bring the fire to heart of his friend.