Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Five Quatrains of Francis Jammes
Translations © by Grant Hicks
Song Cycle by Robert de Roos (1907 - 1976)
View original-language texts alone: Cinq Quatrains de Francis Jammes (I)
Depuis un si long temps qu’il pleut, je me recueille. Par cet avare jour je me sens accablé. Quand donc la nuit complète et le ciel étoilé Où neige en exhalant son âme un chèvrefeuille ?
Text Authorship:
- by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938), "Lumière dans la nuit", written 1923-5, appears in Les livres des quatrains, in 1. Premier Livre, no. 4
See other settings of this text.
Confirmed with Francis Jammes, Le Premier livre de quatrains, Mercure de France, 1923, Page 12.
It's been raining for such a long time, and I've been brooding. I feel overwhelmed by this miserly day. When, then, the full night and the starry sky Where a honeysuckle snows, breathing out its soul?
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Grant Hicks, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938), "Lumière dans la nuit", written 1923-5, appears in Les livres des quatrains, in 1. Premier Livre, no. 4
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2025-09-05
Line count: 4
Word count: 36
Comme un nombreux essaim les fleurs de glycine Malgré le gel léger sur le mur blanc butinent. Une grappe échappée avec l’air se confond Et le pâle soleil avec vos cheveux blonds.
Text Authorship:
- by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938), "Pureté", written 1923-5, appears in Les livres des quatrains, in 1. Premier Livre, no. 6
See other settings of this text.
Confirmed with Francis Jammes, Le Premier livre de quatrains, Mercure de France, 1923, Page 14.
Like a great swarm the wisteria flowers, Despite the light frost, forage on the white wall. One escaped cluster blends with the air And the pale sun with your blonde hair.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Grant Hicks, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938), "Pureté", written 1923-5, appears in Les livres des quatrains, in 1. Premier Livre, no. 6
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2025-06-10
Line count: 4
Word count: 31
Les grillons ont couvert de leur unique cri La sieste du silence au milieu des prairies, Et l'éclat aveuglant des murs des métairies Semble gagner le haut du ciel. Il est midi.
Text Authorship:
- by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938), "Chaleur"
Go to the general single-text view
Confirmed with Francis Jammes, Le Premier livre de quatrains, Mercure de France, 1923, Page 40.
The crickets have covered with their singular cry The siesta of silence in the midst of the meadows, And the blinding glare of the farmhouse walls Seems to reach as high as the sky. It is noon.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Grant Hicks, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938), "Chaleur"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2025-09-05
Line count: 4
Word count: 37
Les grappes de glycine imitent les cascades, L'herbe luit, telle une eau qui se ride en coulant, Et le ciel ordinaire au bleu taché de blanc Semble un lac suspendu plein de voiles nomades.
Text Authorship:
- by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938), "Liquidité"
Go to the general single-text view
Confirmed with Francis Jammes, Le premier livre de quatrains, Paris: Mercure de France, 1923, Page 22.
The clusters of wisteria mimic waterfalls, The grass glistens, like water rippling as it flows, And the usual sky of blue spotted with white Seems a suspended lake filled with nomadic sails.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Grant Hicks, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938), "Liquidité"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2025-08-31
Line count: 4
Word count: 32
Des brebis pacageaient près des ruines d’un mur, La source où nous buvions était pleine d’air pur. Mon enfant s’était endormi sous l’aubépine De la montagne. Au loin luisait la mer divine.
Sheep were grazing by the ruins of a wall, The spring where we drank was full of fresh air. My child had fallen asleep under the mountain Hawthorn. In the distance shone the divine sea.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Grant Hicks, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Francis Jammes (1868 - 1938), "Pastorale"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2025-06-10
Line count: 4
Word count: 35