A lesson in geography
Today at work, while going through my inventory project, I came across some photos of objects from Moldova. I'm doing the inventory on a computer so, never having heard of Moldova previously, I took a quick break from counting photos for a lesson in geography. Wikipedia (yeah, yeah) informed me that Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe and (shockingly) it was once part of the USSR. After gaining independence from the USSR, Moldova was kind of a second Romania, but opted to remain its own country. It is now a parliamentary republic where the people speak Moldovan (Romanian).
And now you are probably wondering why I felt the need to share this with you all. Well, let me tell you!
While browsing through the fast facts on the right hand side of the Wikipedia page, I noticed that the country's motto is "Limba noastră-i o comoară (Our language is a treasure)". Which I thought was kind of cool. Below the motto is the title of the national anthem, "Limba noastră (Our language)", with a link to the lyrics. Which are from an awesome poem. So here you go:
*
A treasure is our language that surges
From deep shadows of the past,
Chain of precious stones that scattered
All over our ancient land.
A burning flame is our language
Amidst a people waking
From a deathly sleep, no warning,
Like the brave man of the stories.
Our language is made of songs
From our soul's deepest desires,
Flash of lighting striking swiftly
Through dark clouds and blue horizons.
Our language is the language of bread
When the winds blow through the summer,
Uttered by our forefathers who
Blessed the country through their labour.
Our language is the greenest leaf
Of the everlasting forests,
Gentle river Nistru's ripples
Hiding starlight bright and shining.
Utter no more bitter cries now
That your language is too poor,
And you will see with what abundance
Flow the words of our precious country.
Our language is full of legends,
Stories from the days of old.
Reading one and then another
Makes one shudder, tremble and moan.
Our language is singled out
To lift praises up to heaven,
Uttering with constant fervour
Truths that never cease to beckon.
Our language is more than holy,
Words of homilies of old
Wept and sung perpetually
In the homesteads of our folks.
Resurrect now this our language,
Rusted through the years that have passed,
Wipe off filth and mould that gathered
When forgotten through our land.
Gather now the sparkling stone,
Catching bright light from the sun.
You will see the endless flooding
Of new words that overflow.
A treasure will spring up swiftly
From deep shadows of the past,
Chain of precious stones that scattered
All over our ancient land.
~ poem by Alexei Mateevici
(uncredited translation snagged from Wikipedia,
where you can also see the Romanian version)
*
I thought it was pretty, so I wanted to share. :)
And now you are probably wondering why I felt the need to share this with you all. Well, let me tell you!
While browsing through the fast facts on the right hand side of the Wikipedia page, I noticed that the country's motto is "Limba noastră-i o comoară (Our language is a treasure)". Which I thought was kind of cool. Below the motto is the title of the national anthem, "Limba noastră (Our language)", with a link to the lyrics. Which are from an awesome poem. So here you go:
*
A treasure is our language that surges
From deep shadows of the past,
Chain of precious stones that scattered
All over our ancient land.
A burning flame is our language
Amidst a people waking
From a deathly sleep, no warning,
Like the brave man of the stories.
Our language is made of songs
From our soul's deepest desires,
Flash of lighting striking swiftly
Through dark clouds and blue horizons.
Our language is the language of bread
When the winds blow through the summer,
Uttered by our forefathers who
Blessed the country through their labour.
Our language is the greenest leaf
Of the everlasting forests,
Gentle river Nistru's ripples
Hiding starlight bright and shining.
Utter no more bitter cries now
That your language is too poor,
And you will see with what abundance
Flow the words of our precious country.
Our language is full of legends,
Stories from the days of old.
Reading one and then another
Makes one shudder, tremble and moan.
Our language is singled out
To lift praises up to heaven,
Uttering with constant fervour
Truths that never cease to beckon.
Our language is more than holy,
Words of homilies of old
Wept and sung perpetually
In the homesteads of our folks.
Resurrect now this our language,
Rusted through the years that have passed,
Wipe off filth and mould that gathered
When forgotten through our land.
Gather now the sparkling stone,
Catching bright light from the sun.
You will see the endless flooding
Of new words that overflow.
A treasure will spring up swiftly
From deep shadows of the past,
Chain of precious stones that scattered
All over our ancient land.
~ poem by Alexei Mateevici
(uncredited translation snagged from Wikipedia,
where you can also see the Romanian version)
*
I thought it was pretty, so I wanted to share. :)