Taras Schechenko (1814-1861)

From 'Asymptote', a new American journal dedicated to literary translation. 

"Will and Testament

When I die bury me
in the middle of the steppe
of my Ukraine. So I can
seize broad the broadback field and
Dnipro, twisting, so
I can see and hear it roar,
roaring, carrying

thieves' blood
to the ocean. Then I'll toss
the fields and mountains and me
and burn them all like prayers.
I won't know God till then. 

Stash me away then stand,
split your chains and spatter
the soil with blood and fury,
having your body back. Now

in our vast family, the free
one, the new one,
don't forget to remember me
in good-will words,
a word unangered,
quiet. "

(December 25th, 1945, Pereyaslav, Ukraine)