St. Mary's Bells (Take One)

(inspired by Jacques Brel, "Je ne sais pas")

Alta suōs ulmus, fāgī et posuēre colōrēs

sōlus apud callem tē maneō solitum.

Clangōrēs, mea amāta, Marīam ēmittere Sanctam

audiō et exspectō; tempus abīre premit!

convēnit nōbīs cum Plīada (mense Novembrī)

vīdimus in summō - hūc rediisse - polō.

At ventī quīdam sonitus crispantia flantis

fōlia; cornīcis vox et acūta monent:

Lītora tē nāvī procul hinc illō comitante

Mīra petītūram; excēdere amōre novō.

The tall elm and the beech

have set aside their colors.

I await you alone, by the accustomed path.

Saint Mary sounds her brazen bells:

I listen and watch out for you.

The time to depart presses (upon us)!

We agreed to return here, when saw the Pleiads

at the sky's summit.

And yet a certain sound - of the wind

blowing the trembling leaves; that,

and the crow's sharp cry advise me:

that you aim to reach strange shores

with him as your companion,

that you depart with new love.