The ancient singer went
lamenting through the forest
-heard the birch wailing.

Now drawing nearer he asks the sacred birch tree
-"Why art thou weeping?"
-Giving wood a shape of a harp!

Weep no more thou sacred birch tree,
grieve no more, my dear friend and my brother.
I will turn thy grief to joy and fortune!

Make thee laugh and sing with gladness and joy!

The ancient singer made
a magic harp from birch wood,
fashioned of summer.

He takes the harp in his hands,
turns the arch up, looking skyward.
-And magic notes follow!

Weep no more thou sacred birch tree,
grieve no more, my dear friend and my brother.

I will turn thy grief to joy and fortune!

Make thee laugh and sing with gladness and joy!