She came to me one morning, one lonely Sunday morning,
her long hair flowing in the mid-winter wind.
I know not how she found me, for in darkness I was walking,
and destruction lay around me from a fight I could not win.
She asked me name my foe then. I said the need within some men
to fight and kill their brothers without thought of men or god.
And I begged her give me horses to trample down my enemies,
so eager was my passion to devour this waste of life.
But she would not think of battle that reduces men to animals,
so easy to begin and yet impossible to end.
For she the mother of all men had counciled me so wisely that
I feared to walk alone again and asked if she would stay.
Oh lady lend your hand, I cried, Oh let me rest here at your side.
Have faith and trust in me, she said and filled my heart with life.
There is no strength in numbers. I’ve no such misconceptions.
But when you need me be assured I won’t be far away.
Thus having spoke she turned away and though I found no words to say
I stood and watched until I saw her black cloak disappear.
My labor is no easier, but now I know I’m not alone.
I find new heart each time I think upon that windy day.
And if one day she comes to you drink deeply from her words so wise.
Take courage from her as your prize and say hello for me
Prevod na srpski
Dama u crnom
Došla mi je jednog jutra, jednog samotnog nedeljnog jutra,
njena duga kosa se na zimskom vetru vijorila.
Ne znam kako me je pronašla, jer u tami sam hodio,
a razaranje me okruživalo zbog borbe koju sam zalud vodio.
Pitala me kako se zovem, moj tadašnji neprijatelj. Rekao sam da neki imaju potrebu
da se bore i, bez pomisli na ljude i boga, svoju braću ubijaju.
I molio sam je da mi da konje da zgazim svoje neprijatelje,
tako snažno sam žudeo da istrošim ovaj propali život.
Ali ona nije htela da misli o bici što ljude pretvara u životinje,
tako lako započne a kraj nikad ne vidi joj se.
Jer ona, majka svih ljudi, savetovala me tako mudro da
sam se bojao da produžim sam i zamolio je da ostane.
Oh damo daj mi ruku, plakao sam. Oh pusti me da se odmorim ovde kraj tebe.
Imaj poverenja i vere u mene, rekla je i ispunila mi srce životom.
Brojevi ne znače mnogo. Nemam takvih zabluda.
Ali kad ti budem potrebna, budi siguran, neću biti daleko.
Kada je to rekla, okrenula se od mene i iako sam ostao bez reči
Stajao sam tako i gledao dok nisam video kako njen crni plašt nestaje.
Moje muke nisu ni malo lakše, ali sada znam da nisam sam.
Ponovo smognem hrabrosti svaki put kada se setim tog dana vetrovitog.
I ako ona jednog dana dođe, upijaj njene reči, tako mudre.
Prihvati odvažnost od nje, kao nagradu i pozdravi je od mene.