Asim Bajramović
Youth Day
Past days have already
been shadowed by sorrow,
though memories
have left their roots behind.
Shadowed by sadness,
yet longing still lives,
when once was carried
Tito’s relay baton.
It was carried with hearts
overflowing with joy,
to be handed to Tito
on Youth Day.
From place to place,
from town to town,
the youth and pioneers,
a ceremonial parade.
And the people’s militia
escorted the relay,
while the youth carried it,
and every child as well.
Everyone wished to touch it,
to keep moving farther with it,
while proudly echoed the words:
“Comrade Tito, we swear to you!”
Some swore with honest hearts,
while some swore falsely,
working behind his back,
dreaming of what they desired.
He always kept repeating
what he knew and what he wanted:
“Preserve unity,”
he constantly told us.
But when the twenty-fifth of May arrives,
when Youth Day dawns,
then the finest young people
prepare to hand him the relay.
Television stations broadcast it all,
a packed stadium, a grand rally,
and he speaks out loudly:
“Let us all remain together.”
Within the relay were all the hearts,
placed into his hands,
where is that time now,
is it remembered for anything today?
Or has everything been forgotten,
as if it never even existed?
Let these verses remember,
while hatred spreads across the world.
Let these verses remember,
let them put an end to hatred,
let them not allow the malicious
to erase the beauty that once existed.
“Protect brotherhood and unity as the apple of your eye.”
Youth Day Past days have already been shadowed by sorrow, though memories have left their roots behind. Shadowed by sadness, yet longing still lives, when once was carried Tito’s relay baton. It was carried with hearts overflowing with joy, to be handed to Tito on Youth Day. From place to place, from town to town, the youth and pioneers, a ceremonial parade. And the people’s militia escorted the relay, while the youth carried it, and every child as well. Everyone wished to touch it, to keep moving farther with it, while proudly echoed the words: “Comrade Tito, we swear to you!” Some swore with honest hearts, while some swore falsely, working behind his back, dreaming of what they desired. He always kept repeating what he knew and what he wanted: “Preserve unity,” he constantly told us. But when the twenty-fifth of May arrives, when Youth Day dawns, then the finest young people prepare to hand him the relay. Television stations broadcast it all, a packed stadium, a grand rally, and he speaks out loudly: “Let us all remain together.” Within the relay were all the hearts, placed into his hands, where is that time now, is it remembered for anything today? Or has everything been forgotten, as if it never even existed? Let these verses remember, while hatred spreads across the world. Let these verses remember, let them put an end to hatred, let them not allow the malicious to erase the beauty that once existed. “Protect brotherhood and unity as the apple of your eye.”