Tyazko, vazko v sviti zyty
Syroti bez rodu:
Nema kudy prychylyt'sya,–
Choch z hory ta v vodu!
Utopyvsya b molodenkyi,
Shchob ne nudyt' svitom;
Utopyvsya b,– tyazko zyty,
I nema de ditys'.

V toho dolya chodyt' polem –
Kolosky zbyraye;
A moya des', ledashchycya,
Za morem blukaye.
Dobre tomu bahatomu:
Yoho lyudy znayut';
A zo mnoyu zustrinut'sya –
Mov nedobachayut'.

Bahatoho hubatoho
Divchyna shanuye;
Nado mnoyu, syrotoyu,
Smiyet'sya, kepkuye.
"Chy ya z tobi ne vrodlyvyi,
Chy ne v tebe vdavsya,
Chy ne lyublyu tebe shchyro,
Chy z tebe smiyavsya?

Lyuby z sobi, moye serce,
Lyuby, koho znayesh,
Ta ne smiysya nado mnoyu,
Yak koly zhadayesh.
A ya pidu na kray svita...
Na chuziy storonci
Naydu krashchu abo zhynu,
Yak toy lyst na sonci".

Pishov kozak sumuyuchy,
Nikoho ne kynuv;
Shukav doli v chuzim poli
Ta tam i zahynuv.
Umyrayuchy, dyvyvsya,
De sonechko syaye...
Tyazko-vazko pomyraty
U chuzomu krayu!