Interspersed with pre-WWII poetic works are those extolling the Latvian-Soviet bond.

“O Latvian Tit in Kremlin Tower”

Rasvatihane, Parus major (Great Tit), on an Estonian stamp

Birds feature prominently in Latvian folk song and poetry. Latvia's national bird is the energetic cielava, wagtail, a symbol of industriousness. It seeks out man-made shelter such as rafters for its nests, fostering a particular sense of closeness with humankind. Other prominent birds include the lakstīgala, nightingale; cīrulītis, lark; and zīlīte, tit. If you are using machine translations, cīrulītis is the diminutive of cīrulis, both translating as and meaning lark; however, while zīlīte is the diminutive of zīle, the latter can also mean "acorn"—presenting a challenge for machine translators.

About the author

Jānis Sudrabkalns (May 17, 1894 – September 4, 1975), born Arvīds Peine, was a Latvian poet and writer—composing his first poems at the age of ten.

Jānis Sudrabkalns at lv.wikipedia.org

Sudrabkalns was mobilized into the army in 1915. He began contributing to newspapers in 1917 while still in the army and was demobilized in 1918 owing to health issues. He did work as a translator for the newspaper Cīņa ("Struggle") as a translator during the Bolshevik occupation. After independence, Sudrabkalns worked for a number of newspapers throughout the 1920's and 1930's, and publishing writings about Latvian, German, English, Russian, and Italian literature, theater, and music. Sudrabkalns was known for his emotive and meticulous artistic reviews.

In 1941, Sudrabkalns evacuated to the Soviet Union ahead of the German invasion, moving around until settling in Moscow, where he lived from January, 1942 to September, 1944. He returned to Latvia in the autumn of 1944, coinciding with the Soviet capture of Rīga. After the war, he was a member of various state organizations, continuing to write about societal and artistic issues from the perspective of Communist ideology—likely drawn to Communist ideals through his utopian vision expressed through his pre-WWII poetry.

Theme

Sudrabkalns draws on the well of Latvian folk songs of war: battling for one's homeland, leaving one's betrothed behind to go to war, a war orphan who has lost both parents. As you subsequently read Sudrabkalns verse, keep in mind these well-known lyrics featuring the zīle as messenger in time of war:

Cekulaina zīle dzied
 
Cekulaina zīle dzied,
Zelta spāres galiņā.
 
Tec, māsiņa, klausīties,
Kādu ziņu zīl’ atnes:
 
Tādu ziņu zīl’ atnes:
Būs brālītim karā iet.
 
Tec, māsiņa, dārziņā!
Pušķo brāļa cepurīt’!
 
Smiedamāsi vārtus vēru,
Raudādama rozes plūcu.
 
Smiedamāsi appušķoju,
Raudādama galvā liku.
A tufted tit sings
 
A tufted tit sings
Atop the golden spire.
 
Scurry, sister, to harken,
What news the tit brings:
 
Such news did the tit bring:
My dear brother need go to war.
 
Scurry, sister, into the garden!
To adorn your brother's cap!
 
Laughing—I swung open the gate,
Weeping—I plucked the roses.
 
Laughing—I adorned it,
Weeping—I placed it upon his head.

The poem

LATVJU ZĪLE KREMĻA TORNĪ
 
Zīle, lielā pareģone,
Cekulotā dziedātāja,
Žiglā ziņu vēstītāja,
Senlaikus ar latvjiem draugos,
Mūžu mūžus dziedājusi
Latvju liepas galotnē.
Tādēļ sirds man strauji sita,
Putna balsi sadzirdot
Tālu prom no dzimtās zemes.
Klausos, skatos: tiesa, tiesa,
Mūsu pašu mīļā zīle,
Kremļa tornī latvju zīle
Spārnus cilā tālam ceļam,
Balsi uzņem skaļai dziesmai.
 
*     *
*
 
Lūk, ko dziedāja un teica
Latvju zīle Kremļa tornī:
„Brāļi tuvu, brāļi tālu,
Klausiet savas zīles ziņu,
Kas no Maskavas jums atskan.
Te es radu mīļus draugus,
Paglābējus grūtā laikā,
Te par latvju sūrām bēdām
Domā vīrs, kam tūkstoš rūpju,
Kam ir visi bāŗi mīļi,
Kam neviens nav zems un niecīgs,
Kam nav bēdu neredzamu,
Kam nav vaidu nedzirdamu.
Viņš ar latvju vīriem cīņā
Domās staigā asins tekas,
Viņš tiem uzticas kā brāļiem.
Diža drosme viņu aizrauj,
Bezbailīgos ceļ viņš augstu,
Jo tam pašam svešas bailes,
Nepazīst viņš gļēvas šaubas.
Latvju strēlniekus viņš godā,
Viņu krūtis rotā zvaigznes.
Lielais Staļins sirmā Kremlī
Mīlē tos, kam spīts un drosme
Cīnīties par brīvi dārgo,
Un par brīvi kaisli cīnās
Daugavdēli, latvju gvardi.
Sveiciens jums no latvju gvardiem!
Dzimteni tie sirdī glabā,
Brīves labā cīņā dodas.
Sveiciens jums no latvju gvardiem!
Mīliet Latviju, kā viņi mīlē!
 
*     *
*
 
Lido, lido, latvju zīle,
Nes no Kremļa prieka vēsti:
Latvji piemin savu zemi.
Dziedi, dziedi, zelta zīle:
Latvji piemin savu zemi.
Pāri robežām sniedz rokas
Brāļi brāļiem, latvji latvjiem.
Laidies tālu, zelta zīle,
Dziedi skaņu cīņas dziesmu.
Oh Latvian Tit in Kremlin Tower
 
Oh Tit, great prophesier,
Tufted singer,
Nimble heralder1
Latvians' intimate since ancient times,
Fore'er singing
Perched in the linden tree-top.
Swiftly, therefore my heart did quicken,
Hearing your bird-song
Far from the land of my birth.
I listen, I look: truly, truly,
Our own beloved tit,
In Kremlin tower, a Latvian tit
Flutters her wings for the long flight,
Voice lifted in strident song.
 
*     *
*
 
Behold, the song and words of the
Latvian tit in Kremlin tower:
„Brothers near, brothers far,
Hear the herald of your tit,
Which resounds from Moscow to you.
Here I made dear friends,
Saviors in hard times,
Here, a man with a thousand worries
Ponders the Latvians' bitter sorrows,
He, who loves every orphan,
He, to whom none are lowly or worthless,
He, to whom no sorrow remains unseen,
He, to whom no cry remains unheard.
Together with Latvian men in battle
In his thoughts he walks their path of blood,
He trusts them as if brothers.
Mighty courage infects him,
He raises the fearless upon high,
For to himself fear is a stranger,
He knows not craven fear.
He honors Latvian riflemen,
He adorns their chests with stars.
The great Stalin in the medieval Kremlin
Loves those with the spite and courage
To fight for freedom dear,
And for freedom do ardently fight
The sons of the Daugava, Latvia's guards.
Greetings to you from the Latvian guards!
They cherish the land of their birth in their hearts,
For the good of freedom, they head to war.
Greetings to you from the Latvian guards!
Love Latvia as they love it!
 
*     *
*
 
Fly, fly, Latvian tit,
Carry the joyous herald from the Kremlin:
Latvians, sanctify your land.
Sing, sing, golden tit:
Latvians, sanctify your land.
Extend hands across borders
Brother to brothers, Latvian to Latvians.
Fly far, golden tit,
Sing the sound, the song of battle.
 
—JĀNIS SUDRABKALNS
1literally, bearer of news
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