commissioned by the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra
From the composer:
I came upon this Pashto poem while reading Khaled Hosseini’s
book, “The Kite Runner”. I can only imagine the plight of refugees and disenfranchised
people. We are passionate about our homeland and the need to belong. It’s not hard to
understand why territorial disputes have long been a primary cause of war.
Pashto (Afghani)
Da zuh ziba watan: this is our beautiful country
Da zuh dada watan: this is our beloved country
Zulu
Wami babazeka izwe: my beautiful country
Hebrew
Zo artseinu ha-yafa: this is our beautiful country
Kiryateinu ha-ahuva: this is our beloved country
Spanish
Nuestra tierra: beautiful land
Hermosa tierra: beloved land
Japanese
Watashi no aisuru kuni: my beloved country
Watashi no totemo utukushi i kuni: my very beautiful country
French
Notre bon pays adore: our beautiful country adored
German
Mein geliebtes land, mein Heimatland: my beloved land
Mein: shoönes land: my beautiful land
Russian
Moya kraiveishaya strana: my beautiful country
Farsi
In watane zibaye mast: this is our beautiful country
In watane azize mast: this is our beloved country
Latin – Psalm 90:01
Domine habitaculum tu factus es nobis in generatione et generatione.
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.