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The sheep are coming home in Greece, Hark the bells on every hill! Flock by flock, and fleece by fleece, Wandering wide a little piece Thro' the evening red and still, Stopping where the pathways cease, Cropping with a hurried will. Thro' the cotton bushes low Merry boys with shouldered crooks Close them in a single row, Shout among them as they go With one bell-ring o'er the brooks. Such delight you never know Reading it from gilded books. Before the early stars are bright Cormorants and sea-gulls call, And the moon comes large and white Filling with a lovely light The ferny curtained waterfall. Then sleep wraps every bell up tight And the climbing moon grows small.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship
- by Francis Ledwidge (1891 - 1917), "Homecoming of the Sheep" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)
- by Michael (Dewar) Head (1900 - 1976), "The homecoming of the sheep", published 1966. [voice and piano] [text not verified]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , title 1: "Le retour des moutons", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-04-17
Line count: 21
Word count: 118
Les moutons rentrent à la maison en Grèce, Écoute les cloches sur chaque colline ! Troupeau après troupeau, et toison après toison, Errant au loin un petit morceau Dans le crépuscule rouge et tranquille, S'arrêtant où cessent les chemins, Broutant précipitamment. À travers les buissons bas de coton Des garçons joyeux avec des houlettes à l'épaule Les mettent en une seule rangée, Crient au milieu d'eux quand ils vont Avec un tintement de cloche au-dessus des ruisseaux. Ces plaisirs vous ne les connaitrez jamais En lisant des livres dorés. Avant que les premières étoiles ne brillent Les cormorans et les mouettes lancent leur appel, Et la lune arrive large et blanche Remplissant d'une jolie lumière La cascade aux rideaux de fougères. Puis, le sommeil enveloppe soigneusement chaque cloche Et la lune en montant devient plus petite.
Authorship
- Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2011 by Guy Laffaille, (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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- a text in English by Francis Ledwidge (1891 - 1917), "Homecoming of the Sheep"
This text was added to the website: 2011-06-25
Line count: 21
Word count: 136