Reine des mouettes
French source:
Louise de Vilmorin
Je t'ai vue rose, je m'en souviens
Sous les brumes mousselines
De ton deuil ancien.
Rose d'aimer le baiser qui chagrine
Tu te laissais accorder à mes mains
Sous les brumes mousselines
Voiles de nos liens.
Rougis, rougis mon baiser te devine
Mouette prise aux nœuds des grands chemins.
Reine des mouettes, mon orpheline
Tu étais rose,
accordée à mes mains
Rose sous les mousselines
Et je m'en souviens.
Queen of seagulls
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
I recall you blushing pink,
Beneath the muslin mists
Of your ancient sorrow.
Blushing pink at the kiss which provokes you,
You surrendered to my hands
Beneath the muslin mists,
Veils of bond between us.
Blush, blush, my kiss finds you out,
Seagull caught where great highways meet.
Queen of seagulls, my little orphan,
You blushed pink, surrendered to my hands,
Pink beneath the muslin
And I recall the moment.
Translation © Richard Stokes, from A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
Reine des mouettes
French source:
Louise de Vilmorin
Queen of seagulls
English source:
Richard Stokes
Reine des mouettes, mon orpheline
Queen of seagulls, my little orphan,
Je t'ai vue rose, je m'en souviens
I recall you blushing pink,
Sous les brumes mousselines
Beneath the muslin mists
De ton deuil ancien.
Of your ancient sorrow.
Rose d'aimer le baiser qui chagrine
Blushing pink at the kiss which provokes you,
Tu te laissais accorder à mes mains
You surrendered to my hands
Sous les brumes mousselines
Beneath the muslin mists,
Voiles de nos liens.
Veils of bond between us.
Rougis, rougis mon baiser te devine
Blush, blush, my kiss finds you out,
Mouette prise aux nœuds des grands chemins.
Seagull caught where great highways meet.
Reine des mouettes, mon orpheline
Queen of seagulls, my little orphan,
Tu étais rose,
You blushed pink, surrendered to my hands,
accordée à mes mains
Pink beneath the muslin
Rose sous les mousselines
And I recall the moment.
Et je m'en souviens.
Composer
Francis Poulenc
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc (F7 January 1899 – 30 January 1963) was a French composer and pianist. His compositions include mélodies, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Read the full…
