Żywiołak - Dziadyga

Oh, green holidays
When they arrive
All the souls return
To the world

The old man tapped the ground with his wooden leg
He had a leg cut off up to the knee

He went wherever, from wherever, just to relax
He stood by the streams, with his back to the forest
A nymph girl emerged from the depths
Splashed his eyes, wrinkled half his face

And she started kissing the old man’s stilt
One leg and the crutch – the slippery temptress
Why do you only kiss my troubled log?
Why do you ignore the old man up to the knee?

With caresses, you want to tempt the wood into sin?
Dana dana, oh dana, I'll die of laughter!
From Dobrzyń to Golub, people say
Drwęca’s maidens capture strength in holidays

She wrapped him with her arm, circled him like a top
Come with me, old man, little old man, old fellow!
These thresholds are not high for the devil’s offspring?
Go away, water goblin. You, illness of the stream!

She pulled his bag and beggar’s beard
Into those monstrous currents that mean nothing to the light.
Before he could turn around, he already had a wave on his back
Before he could cross himself, he was gone from the world!

Only this decent log, that wooden crutch
Emerged victoriously cleansed from shame
Freed from disability, it floated through the waves
Dana-dana, oh dana – into the loving distance