I’d been watching lots of Russian Folk Chorus videos recently, and then came across this exceptionally lovely and moving song, “A Poor Little Bird sat in a Cage”.

I’ve written a version of it in English.

My verse is only a version. The original Russian poem is exquisitely lyrical and yet simple. It is beyond my power to translate it adequately, using exactly the same words, one for one. I do try to approximate the meter and rhyme scheme. I’ve also changed the title.

It is the mood, rhythm and approximate sense I aim for.

The singer is Marina Krapostina. My wife pointed out, reading down the comments, which I had not done, that she is now deceased. It was a shock to us both after watching the video. People, in commenting, say things like: “She made me cry.” “I did not cry, I sobbed.”

I cried too. She sang like an angel. God bless her soul.

When you click on the video link beneath the lyric, let the spoken introduction run for about 30seconds. And then the song begins:

IN GOD’S SWEET GRACE
A version of a Russian song

The poor little song bird sat long in a cage
Eating sweet grain as a little bird’s wage,
Often looked out through the window pane where
A free little song bird could take to the air –
“Then I could fly where the green branches grew
To sing in the dawn and God’s blessing of dew,
Then I could fly in the dusk of the wood
To sing of sweet Jesus in flesh and Godhood,
Then I could fly to a far distant place
Where paradise grows in God’s heavenly grace,
In heaven most holy, by candle and flame
The souls of the righteous can bless in God’s name.”