Trafika Europe 7 - Ukrainian Prayer

SWEET DARUSYA Translated from Ukrainian by Michael M. Naydan and Olha Tytarenko

from MYKHAILO’S MIRACLE: THE MAIN DRAMA M atronka gave birth in broad daylight in the middle of March. Certain gazda maidens in the village weren’t able to hide from the eyes of the villagers that they had become pregnant prematurely, though they pressed

The village yet again in astonishment looked in the direction of their house: no one saw Matronka with a big belly, she didn’t ask advice of anyone about giving birth, she didn’t call a midwife, and the baby’s crying – you can hear it all the way outside. And how did Mykhailo do the delivery? And how did he cut off the umbilical cord? Why-why, the young village women couldn’t forgive such ignorance. The time came to lash Matronka harder with their tongues.

themselves in with belts and wore wide skirts with pleats. But a proper married woman, add to the fact she was such a small one, you wouldn’t know the child was inside her, she tended to her garden nearly to the Feast of the Protectress; every Sunday right on time she scurried to church; and she tied her shoes by herself to the last days. But, the rascal, she didn’t tell anyone! Maybe she didn’t even tell Mykhailo either?!

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