3936566The Kobzar of the Ukraine: Being Select Poems of Taras ShevchenkoIconoclasmAlexander Jardine HunterTaras Shevchenko

Iconoclasm

BRIGHT light, peaceful light,
Free light, light unbound!
What is this, brother light?
In thy warm home thou'rt found
By censers smoked,
By priests' robes choked,
Fettered and fooled
And by Ikons ruled.
Yield thee not in the fight,
Waken up, brother light!
Shed thy pure rays
On mankind's ways.
All priestly robes in rags we'll tear
And light our pipes from censers rare,
With Ikons now the flames will roar,
With holy brooms we'll sweep the floor.