Vējš augstākās priedes nolauza,

RainisLatvian16 lines2 public analyses
Original Poetry
Translation
Vējš augstākās priedes nolauza,
The wind snapped the tallest pines,
Kas kāpās pie jūras stāvēja.
That stood on the dunes by the sea.
Pēc tālēm tās skatieniem gribēja sniegt,
They wanted to reach out to the far distances,
Ne slēpties tās spēja, ne muguras liekt.
They couldn't hide or bend their backs.
"Kam lauzi mūs naidīgā pretvara,
"Why do you break us, hostile force,
Vēl cīņa pret tevi nav nobeigta!"
The fight against you isn't over yet!"
Vēl ilgās pēc tālēm dveš pēdējais vaids,
Still longing for the distances, the last sigh breathes,
Ik zarā pret varu šņāc nerimstošs naids.
In every branch, an endless hatred hisses against the power.
Un augstākās priedes pēc lauzuma
And the tallest pines after being broken
Par kuģiem iz ūdeņiem iznira.
Rose from the waters like ships.
Pret vētru lepni cilājās krūts,
Against the storm, the chest proudly lifts,
Pret vētru cīņa no jauna dūc.
Against the storm, the fight hums again.
"Brāz bangas tu, naidīgā pretvara,
"You, hostile force, crash the waves,
Mēs sniegsim tāles, kur laimība.
We will reach the distances where happiness is.
Tu vari mūs šķelt, tu vari mūs lauzt,
You can split us, you can break us,
Mēs tāles sniegsim, kur saule aust !"
We will reach the distances where the sun rises!"
 

Explanation

The poem 'Lauztās priedes' (The Broken Pines) by Rainis uses the metaphor of pines broken by the wind to symbolize resilience and defiance against oppressive forces. The pines, standing tall on the dunes by the sea, represent strength and the desire to reach beyond immediate confines. Despite being broken, they emerge from the waters like ships, ready to face the storm again. This imagery reflects a spirit of perseverance and hope, suggesting that even when faced with adversity, there is a determination to strive towards a brighter future where happiness and freedom await. The poem captures the essence of the Latvian struggle for independence and identity, with the pines symbolizing the nation's resilience and the unyielding spirit of its people. The recurring theme of reaching for the distances where the sun rises signifies hope and the pursuit of a better tomorrow.

Word Dictionary69

WordIn LatvianIn EnglishPron.
VējšvētrawindVeesh
augstākāsvisaugstākāstallestaug-staa-kaas
priedeskokipinesprie-des
nolauzasalauzabrokeno-lau-za
Kaskuršthatkas
kāpāssmilšu kalnosduneskaa-paas
pieblakusbypie
jūrasokeānaseajuu-ras
stāvējaatradāsstoodsta-vee-ja
Pēcpēc tamafterpeets
tālēmtālām vietāmdistancestaa-lem
tāsviņasthosetas
skatieniemskatienslookska-tee-ni-em
gribējavēlējāswantedgri-bee-ja
sniegtdotreachsniegt
Nenotne
slēptiespaslēptieshideslep-ties
spējavarējacouldspee-ja
mugurasmugurasbacksmu-gu-ras
liektsaliektbendliekt
Kamkuramwhykam
lauzisalauzibreaklau-zi
mūsmēsusmoos
naidīgānaidīgsenemynai-di-gaa
pretvarapretspēksopponentpret-va-ra
Vēlvēlstillveel
cīņacīņafightcee-nya
pretpretagainstpret
tevijūsyoute-vi
navnavnotnav
nobeigtapabeigtaoverno-beig-ta
ilgāsilgāslongingil-gaas
dvešelpobreathesdvesh
pēdējaispēdējaislastpee-dee-yais
vaidsvaidssighvaids
Ikkatrseveryik
zarāzarābranchza-raa
šņācšņāchissesshnaats
nerimstošsnepārtrauktsunceasingne-rim-stosh
naidsnaidshatrednaids
Ununandun
pēcpēcafterpeets
lauzumasalauzumabreakagelau-zu-ma
Parparlikepar
kuģiemkuģiemshipsku-gyeem
ūdeņiemūdeņiemwatersuu-de-nyeem
izniraizniraemergediz-ni-ra
Pretpretagainstpret
vētruvētrustormvee-tru
lepnilepniproudlylep-ni
cilājāscilājasmovesci-laa-yaas
krūtskrūtschestkruuts
nonofromno
jaunajaunaanewyau-na
dūcdūcbuzzesduuts
Brāztrieciensstrikebraaz
bangasbangaswavesban-gas
tutuyoutu
Mēsmēswemees
sniegsimdosimgivesnieg-sim
tālestālesdistancestaa-les
kurkurwherekur
laimībalaimībahappinesslai-mee-ba
Tutuyoutu
varivaricanva-ri
šķeltšķeltsplitshkelt
lauztlauztbreaklauzt
saulesaulesunsau-le
austaustrisesaust

Poet & Context

PoetRainis
Era19th-20th century

Rainis, born Jānis Pliekšāns, was a prominent Latvian poet, playwright, and politician. He played a significant role in Latvian literature and was a key figure in the Latvian national awakening.

View on Wikipedia
WhenEarly 20th century
WhyThe poem reflects themes of resilience and defiance against oppressive forces, likely inspired by Latvia's struggles for independence and identity.
FormFree verse

Themes & More

resiliencedefiancenaturefreedom
metaphor: The pines symbolize resilience and defiance.imagery: Vivid descriptions of the pines and the storm create a strong visual impact.personification: The pines are given human-like qualities, such as longing and defiance.alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds, such as in 'vējš augstākās priedes'.