Glades in the sky

Translations © by Faith J. Cormier

Song Cycle by Lili Boulanger (1893 - 1918)

View original-language texts alone: Clairières dans le ciel

1. Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie,
et, comme la prairie était toute fleurie
de plantes dont la tige aime à pousser dans l'eau,
ces plantes inondées je les avais cueillies.
Bientôt, s'étant mouillée, elle gagna le haut
de cette prairie-là qui était toute fleurie.
Elle riait et s'ébrouait avec la grâce
dégingandée qu'ont les jeunes filles trop grandes.
Elle avait le regard qu'ont les fleurs de lavande.

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by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938)
1. She had gone down to the bottom of the meadow
Language: English 
She had gone down to the bottom of the meadow, 
and because the meadow was full of flowers 
that like to grow in the water, 
I had gathered the drowned plants. 
Soon, because she was wet, she came back to the top 
of that flowery meadow. 
She laughed and moved with the lanky grace 
of girls who are too tall. 
She looked the way lavender flowers do.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2003 by Faith J. Cormier, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2004-01-27
Line count: 9
Word count: 67

Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
2. Elle est gravement gaie
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Elle est gravement gaie. Par moments son regard
se levait comme pour surprendre ma pensée.
Elle était douce alors comme quand il est tard
le velours jaune et bleu d'une allée de pensées.

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by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938)
2. She is solemnly gay
Language: English 
She is solemnly gay. Sometimes she looked up 
as if to see what I was thinking. 
She was as soft as the yellow and blue velvet 
of a lane of pansies late at night.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2003 by Faith J. Cormier, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Line count: 4
Word count: 34

Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
3. Parfois, je suis triste
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Parfois, je suis triste. Et soudain, je pense à elle.
Alors, je suis joyeux. Mais je redeviens triste
de ce que je ne sais pas combien elle m'aime.
Elle est la jeune fille à l'âme toute claire,
et qui, dedans son cœur, garde avec jalousie
l'unique passion que l'on donne à un seul.
Elle est partie avant que s'ouvrent les tilleuls,
et, comme ils ont fleuri depuis qu'elle est partie,
Je me suis étonné de voir, ô mes amis,
des branches de tilleuls qui n'avaient pas de fleurs.

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by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938)
3. Sometimes I'm sad
Language: English 
Sometimes I'm sad, and then suddenly I think of her 
and I'm happy. Then I'm sad again 
because I don't know how much she loves me. 
She is a bright-souled girl, 
and in her heart she jealously protects 
the one passion she will bestow on only one. 
She left before the lindens opened. 
They have flowered since then 
and I was amazed, my friends, 
to see linden branches with no flowers on them.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2003 by Faith J. Cormier, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Line count: 10
Word count: 73

Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
4. Un poète disait
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Un poète disait que, lorsqu'il était jeune,
il fleurissait des vers comme un rosier des roses.
Lorsque je pense à elle, il me semble que jase
une fontaine intarissable dans mon cœur.
Comme sur le lys Dieu pose un parfum d'église,
comme il met du corail aux joues de la cerise,
je veux poser sur elle, avec dévotion,
la couleur d'un parfum, qui n'aura pas de nom.

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by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938)
4. A poet said
Language: English 
A poet said that when he was young 
poems budded out of him like roses on a rose bush. 
When I think of her, it feels like 
there is an inexhaustible spring in my heart. 
As God gives the lily the odor of a church 
and tints the cherry's cheeks, 
I want to give her with devotion 
the colour of a perfume that shall have no name.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2003 by Faith J. Cormier, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Line count: 8
Word count: 67

Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
5. Au pied de mon lit
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Au pied de mon lit, une Vierge négresse
fut mise par ma mère. Et j'aime cette Vierge
d'une religion un peu italienne.
Virgo Lauretana, debout dans un fond d'or,
qui me faites penser à mille fruits de mer
que l'on vend sur les quais où pas un souffle d'air
n'émeut les pavillons qui lourdement s'endorment,
Virgo Lauretana, vous savez qu'en ces heures
où je ne me sens pas digne d'être aimé d'elle
c'est vous dont le parfum me rafraîchit le cœur.

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by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938)
5. At the foot of my bed
Language: English 
At the foot of my bed my mother hung a Black Virgin. 
And I love this Virgin
with an almost Italian devotion. 
Virgo Lauretana, standing in a field of gold, 
you make me think of a thousand crustaceans 
for sale on wharves where not a breath of air 
stirs the sleepy banners. 
Virgo Lauretana, you know that in those hours 
when I am not worthy to be loved by her, 
your perfume refreshes my heart.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2003 by Faith J. Cormier, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Translation of title "Au pied de mon lit" = "At the foot of my bed"


This text was added to the website: 2004-01-27
Line count: 10
Word count: 75

Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
6. Si tout ceci n'est qu'un pauvre rêve
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Si tout ceci n'est qu'un pauvre rêve, et s'il faut
que j'ajoute dans ma vie, une fois encore,
la désillusion aux désillusions ;
et, si je dois encore, par ma sombre folie,
chercher dans la douceur du vent et de la pluie
les seules vaines voix qui m'aient en passion :
je ne sais si je guérirai, ô mon amie...

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by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938)
6. If all were naught but a poor dream
Language: English 
If all were naught but a poor dream, 
and if I had to pile
disillusionment on disillusionment in my life, 
and if in my shadowy madness I again had 
to look to the sweetness of wind and rain 
to find the only vain voices that love me passionately, 
I don't know if I would ever get better, sweetheart...

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2003 by Faith J. Cormier, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Line count: 7
Word count: 58

Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
7. Nous nous aimerons tant
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Nous nous aimerons tant que nous tairons nos mots,
en nous tendant la main, quand nous nous reverrons.
Vous serez ombragée par d'anciens rameaux
sur le banc que je sais où nous nous assoirons.
 ... 
Donc nous nous assoirons sur ce banc, tous deux seuls,
 ... 
D'un long moment, ô mon amie, vous n'oserez...
Que vous me serez douce et que je tremblerai...

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by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938)
7. We will love each other so much
Language: English 
We will love each other so much that we won't speak 
but just stretch out our hands to each other when we see each other again. 
You will be in the shadow of ancient branches, 
on the bench where I know we will sit. 
[ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2003 by Faith J. Cormier, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Line count: 7
Word count: 72

Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
8. Vous m'avez regardé avec toute votre âme
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Vous m'avez regardé avec toute votre âme.
Vous m'avez regardé longtemps comme un ciel bleu.
J'ai mis votre regard à l'ombre de mes yeux...
Que ce regard était passionné et calme...

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by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938)
8. You looked at me with all your soul
Language: English 
You looked at me with all your soul. 
You looked at me for a long time, like a blue sky. 
I put your glance in the shadow of my eyes... 
How passionate and calm it was...

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2003 by Faith J. Cormier, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Line count: 4
Word count: 36

Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
9. Les lilas qui avaient fleuri
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Les lilas qui avaient fleuri l'année dernière
vont fleurir de nouveau dans les tristes parterres.
Déjà le pêcher grêle a jonché le ciel bleu
de ses roses, comme un enfant la Fête-Dieu.
Mon cœur devrait mourir au milieu de ces choses,
car c'était au milieu des vergers blancs et roses
que j'avais espéré je ne sais quoi de vous.
Mon âme rêve sourdement sur vos genoux.
Ne la repoussez point. Ne la relevez pas
de peur qu'en s'éloignant de vous elle ne voie
combien vous êtes faible et troublée dans ses bras.

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by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938)
9. The lilacs which bloomed
Language: English 
The lilacs which bloomed last year 
will flower again in their sad beds.
Already the frail peach tree has bedecked the blue sky 
with its roses, like a child on the feast of Corpus Christi. 
My heart should die amid all these things, 
for it was among white and pink orchards 
that I had hoped for I don't know what from you. 
My soul sleeps soundly in your lap. 
Don't push it away. Don't awaken it, 
for fear that when it leaves 
it will see how you are weak and troubled in its arms.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2003 by Faith J. Cormier, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2004-01-27
Line count: 11
Word count: 94

Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
10. Deux ancolies
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Deux ancolies se balançaient sur la colline
Et l'ancolie disait à sa 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.

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by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938)
10. Two columbines
Language: English 
Two columbines rocked on the hill. 
One columbine said to her sister columbine, 
"I tremble before you and am confused." 
The other answered, "If in the rock that 
the water wears away drop by drop I look at myself, I see
that I tremble and I am as confused as you are." 

The wind rocked them harder, 
filling them with love and mingling their blue hearts.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2003 by Faith J. Cormier, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Line count: 8
Word count: 66

Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
11. Par ce que j'ai souffert
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Par ce que j'ai souffert, ma mésange bénie,
je sais ce qu'a souffert l'autre : car j'étais deux...
Je sais vos longs réveils au milieu de la nuit
et l'angoisse de moi qui vous gonfle le sein.
On dirait par moments qu'une tête chérie,
confiante et pure, ô vous qui êtes la sœur des lins
en fleurs et qui parfois fixez le ciel comme eux,
on dirait qu'une tête inclinée dans la nuit
pèse de tout son poids, à jamais, sur ma vie.

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by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938)
11. Because I have suffered
Language: English 
Because I have suffered, blessed titmouse,
I know what the other has suffered, for I was two... 
I know how long you lay awake at night 
and how anguish for me swelled your bosom. 
Sometimes one would say that a dear head,
trusting and pure, you who are sister of the blooming flax 
and who sometimes stare at the sky as they do, 
one would say that a head bent in the night
weighs heavily on my life forever.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2003 by Faith J. Cormier, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2004-01-27
Line count: 9
Word count: 79

Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
12. Je garde une médaille d'elle
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Je garde une médaille d'elle où sont gravés
une date et les mots: prier, croire, espérer.
Mais moi, je vois surtout que la médaille est sombre :
son argent a noirci sur son col de colombe.

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by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938)
12. I keep a medal for her
Language: English 
I keep a medal for her on which are engraved 
three words: pray, believe, hope. 
What I see most is that the medal is dark because 
its silver has blackened on her dove's neck.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2003 by Faith J. Cormier, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Line count: 4
Word count: 34

Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
13. Demain fera un an
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Demain fera un an qu'à Audaux je cueillais
les fleurs dont j'ai parlé, de la prairie mouillée.
C'est aujourd'hui le plus beau des jours de Pâques.
Je me suis enfoncé dans l'azur des campagnes,
à travers bois, à travers prés, à travers champs.
Comment, mon cœur, n'es-tu pas mort depuis un an ?
Mon cœur, je t'ai donné encore ce calvaire
de revoir ce village où j'avais tant souffert,
ces roses qui saignaient devant les presbytère,
ces lilas qui me tuent dans les tristes parterres.
Je me suis souvenu de ma détresse ancienne,
et je ne sais comment je ne suis pas tombé
sur l'ocre du sentier, le front dans la poussière.
Plus rien. Je n'ai plus rien, plus rien qui me soutienne.
Pourquoi fait-il si beau et pourquoi suis-je né ?
J'aurais voulu poser sur vos calmes genoux
la fatigue qui rompt mon âme qui se couche
ainsi qu'une pauvresse au fossé de la route.
Dormir. Pouvoir dormir. Dormir à tout jamais
sous les averses bleues, sous les tonnerres frais.
Ne plus sentir. Ne plus savoir votre existence.
Ne plus voir cet azur engloutir ces coteaux
dans ce vertige bleu qui mêle l'air à l'eau,
ni ce vide où je cherche en vain votre présence.
Il me semble sentir pleurer au fond de moi,
d'un lourd sanglot muet, quelqu'un qui n'est pas là.
J'écris. Et la campagne est sonore de joie.
 ... 

...Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie,
et comme la prairie était toute fleurie...
Plus rien. Je n'ai plus rien, plus rien qui me soutienne.

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by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938)
13. Tomorrow it will be a year
Language: English 
Tomorrow it will be a year since I gathered
the flowers I spoke of, in the wet meadow at Audaux. 
Today is the fairest of the Easter season. 
I've buried myself in the blue of the countryside, 
through woods, through meadows, through fields. 
How, my heart, did you not die a year ago? 
My heart, I've given you a new Calvary, 
seeing the village where I suffered so much, 
these roses bleeding before the priest's house, 
the lilacs killing me in their sad beds. 
I remembered my old distress 
and I don't know why I didn't fall 
on the ochre path, my brow in the dust. 
Nothing left. I have nothing left, nothing left to hold me up. 
Why is it so lovely out, and why was I born? 
I would have wished to lay on your calm lap 
the weariness that breaks my soul that lays itself down, 
like a poor woman in the ditch beside the road. 
To sleep. To be able to sleep. To be able to sleep forever 
under the blue showers and the cool thunder. 
To not feel any more. To not know you exist any more. 
To never again see this azure swallow up these hills 
in the dizzying blue that mixes air and water, 
nor this vacuum where I seek your presence in vain. 
It seems that I feel someone who is not there 
weeping with heavy, silent sobs inside of me. 
I write. And the countryside sounds with joy. 





...She went down to the bottom of the meadow, 
and like the meadow she was all in bloom....

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2003 by Faith J. Cormier, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2004-01-27
Line count: 29
Word count: 265

Translation © by Faith J. Cormier