Songs

Le long du quai les grands vaisseaux,
Along the quay the great ships,
Que la houle incline en silence,
Listing silently with the surge,
Ne prennent pas garde aux berceaux
Pay no heed to the cradles
Que la main des femmes balance.
Rocked by women’s hands.

Mais viendra le jour des adieux,
But the day of parting will come,
Car il faut que les femmes pleurent,
For it is decreed that women shall weep,
Et que les hommes curieux
And that men with questing spirits
Tentent les horizons qui leurrent.
Shall seek enticing horizons.

Et ce jour-là les grands vaisseaux,
And on that day the great ships,
Fuyant le port qui diminue,
Leaving the dwindling harbour behind,
Sentent leur masse retenue
Shall feel their hulls held back
Par l’âme des lointains berceaux.
By the soul of the distant cradles.