Kouv from KAEV by Ringhold

KOUV (prose translation from Livonian to English by Monta Bernstein)

As in the desert, it was here dry,
empty sometimes water bucket, ladle.
When I dug up the well, then
from a distant home even came.
Also a bucket, ladle was carried by a few,
another, however, bragged cheerfully -
how would it have helped to dig.
Yet another can belittle – saying,
the well was supposed to be
dug a little shallower, for me
it is easier to dipper in. And, oh God,
someone spits, when drunk.
No one's thinking,
through which that good comes to him.
It has been forgotten that earlier here
was just a shallow puddle,
where the bottom of the bucket is barely wet.
Now after me, a few good one
started to dig by itself, -
now we are no longer threatened by hunger for water.
And just a pity that has been forgotten
to say simply - thank you.

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