In one kiss, the wave
Gabriel Fauré
In one kiss, the wave
speaks its grief to the shore:
To console the wild flower
the dawn has tears;
The evening breeze describes its grievances
To the ancient cypress trees,
The turtle-dove voices to the terebinth
Its many regrets.
To the dormant waves, when all is quiet,
Without pain,
The moon speaks, and explains the reason
For its pallor.
Your white dome, Saint Sophia,
Speaks to the blue sky,
And, ever dreaming, the sky confides
Its dream to God.
Tree or tomb, dove or rose,
Wave or rock,
Everything here below, has something
To pour forth...
But me, I am alone, and nothing on earth
Ever responds to me;
Nothing but your doleful and intense voice,
Gloomy Hellespont!