Levad', amigo


Awake!
	from the 10th century Gallego-Portuguese Iberia
Awake, my friend, who sleeps at the cold dawn! All the birds of the world were making love-song. Of your love and mine the birds made song. You cut the branches that the birds sat on! Awake! I go! Awake, my love, who sleeps in the dawn's cold! All the birds of the world sang of love. It was your love and my love the birds sang of. You cut the branches where the birds were sitting! And dried the waters where the birds went swimming! Now, merrily I go!
	Translation of "Levad'ameu" completed Texas, 2002 by C. E. W. (NOTE: My translation may not compete with Yvor Winters'--who has also translated this poem!)