Maarja Nuut & Ruum - Haned kadunud

Others were given other chores,
the farmhands were given important chores.
I was given a poor chore;
to guard the geese, to watch over the hens.
I drove the geese to the waters,
I drove the hens to the golden grove.
A wind came from another land,
lightning struck from the north,
it drove my geese away from the waters,
it drove my hens away from the golden grove.
I went home in with a heavy heart,
a heavy heart, a sorrowed tongue:
‘Oh, my gentle mother dear,
mother, sweet as honey.
Make me bread to last a day,
a loaf to last me two months,
I will go looking for the geese!’

Then I journeyed quite a way,
quite a way, across the land.
Who was coming towards me,
who was moving towards me?
Coming towards me were plenty of ploughmen,
a hundred assarters.
‘Have you seen my geese?’
‘What were these geese like?’
‘They were golden-naped,
they were silver-crowned.’
‘We have neither seen nor heard them.’

Again I journeyed quite a way,
quite a way, across the land.
Who was coming towards me,
who was moving towards me?
Towards me came many men,
many men, lots of lads.
‘Have you seen my geese?’
‘What were these geese like?’
‘They were golden-naped,
they were silver-crowned.’
‘We have neither seen nor heard them.’

Again I journeyed quite a way,
quite a way, across the land.
Who was coming towards me,
who was moving towards me?
Four young women were coming towards me,
three of them were brides,
‘Have you seen my geese?’
‘What were these geese like?’
‘They were golden-naped,
they were silver-crowned.’
‘They were at Mõõlu manor.
Go there, you will get them back!’

I have journeyed to Mõõlu manor.
A seat of goose bones is brought to me.
I am given goose meat to eat,
I am given goose blood to drink