Deux ancolies
French source:
Francis Jammes
et l’ancolie disait à la sœur l’ancolie:
Je tremble devant toi et demeure confuse.
Et l’autre répondait: Si dans la roche qu’use
l’eau, goutte à goutte, si je me mire, je vois
que je tremble, et je suis confuse comme toi.
Le vent de plus en plus les berçait toutes deux,
les emplissait d’amour et mêlait leurs cœurs bleus.
Two columbines
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
and one columbine said to its sister columbine:
I tremble before you and am abashed.
And the other replied: if in the rock, worn away
drop by drop with water, I observe myself, I see
that I tremble, and feel, like you, abashed.
The wind rocked both of them with increasing might,
filled them with love and mingled their blue hearts.
Translation © Richard Stokes author of A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
Deux ancolies
French source:
Francis Jammes
Two columbines
English source:
Richard Stokes
Deux ancolies se balançaient sur la colline
Two columbines swayed on the hill
et l’ancolie disait à la sœur l’ancolie:
and one columbine said to its sister columbine:
Je tremble devant toi et demeure confuse.
I tremble before you and am abashed.
Et l’autre répondait: Si dans la roche qu’use
And the other replied: if in the rock, worn away
l’eau, goutte à goutte, si je me mire, je vois
drop by drop with water, I observe myself, I see
que je tremble, et je suis confuse comme toi.
that I tremble, and feel, like you, abashed.
Le vent de plus en plus les berçait toutes deux,
The wind rocked both of them with increasing might,
les emplissait d’amour et mêlait leurs cœurs bleus.
filled them with love and mingled their blue hearts.
Composer
Lili Boulanger
Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) is often described as one of the most gifted composers of the twentieth century, however, her promise was cut short by early death. She achieved a degree of posthumous renown which is exceptional among women…
