Text & Translation
Hymyi hypnos
source:
L. Onerva
solisi Lethen vesi,
valkea kyyhky
istahti ikkunallesi.
Lethen laine
huuhtoi sairautesi,
Lethen lintu
yöhösi onnen pesi.
Sydän hullu,
miks’ yhä hiivit lymyyn,
miksi et vastaa
hyvän jumalan hymyyn?
Hypnos smiled
English translation ©
Jaakko Mäntyjärvi
The waters of Lethe murmured,
A white dove
Perched on thy windowsill.
The waters of Lethe
Washed away thy illness,
The bird of Lethe
Laid an egg of happiness in thy life.
O mad heart,
Why dost thou hide away,
Why dost thou not respond
To the smile of a good god?
Hymyi hypnos
source:
L. Onerva
Hypnos smiled
English source:
Jaakko Mäntyjärvi
Hymyi Hypnos:
Hypnos smiled:
solisi Lethen vesi,
The waters of Lethe murmured,
valkea kyyhky
A white dove
istahti ikkunallesi.
Perched on thy windowsill.
Lethen laine
The waters of Lethe
huuhtoi sairautesi,
Washed away thy illness,
Lethen lintu
The bird of Lethe
yöhösi onnen pesi.
Laid an egg of happiness in thy life.
Sydän hullu,
O mad heart,
miks’ yhä hiivit lymyyn,
Why dost thou hide away,
miksi et vastaa
Why dost thou not respond
hyvän jumalan hymyyn?
To the smile of a good god?
Composer
Leevi Madetoja
Leevi Antti Madetoja was a Finnish composer, music critic, conductor, and teacher of the late-Romantic and early-modern periods. He was a student and contemporary of Sibelius.
