El pi de Formentor [English translation]

My heart loves a tree! Far older than the olive trees,

Far stronger than an oak, far leafier than the orange tree;

It preserves, in its leaves, an eternal Springtime

And it fights against the fierce gusts of wind that hit the seaside

Like a gigantic warrior.

It doesn't seek to adorn its leaves with love-inspiring blossoms;

The waters of the spring don't travel to kiss its comforting shade;

Yet God filled with sweet scents its consecrated crown

And gave to it, as a kingdom, this uninviting mountain range

And gave to it, as a fountain, the boundless sea.

When far away, above the waves, the divine light is reborn

The charming songbird doesn't sing in its branches;

Instead, it can hear the majestic wail of the sea eagle

Or it can feel the giant wing of the vulture

Shake its leaves as it takes flight.

It cannot sustain its life with the poor soils of this land;

It must seek nourishment through the rocks with its powerful roots

And it has rainstorms and the dew and strong winds and burning light

As, like an old prophet, it stays alive and feeds itself thanks to

Heaven's sweet affections.

Sublime tree! It is the very image of intelligence:

It rules over the mountains and watches over infinity;

The earth is harsh to it, but its branches kiss

The sky, which fascinates it; and both the thunderbolt and the breeze

Are a reflection of its glory and the source of its delight.

Oh, yes! When the harsh winds howl in absolute freedom

And it looks like the sea foam will topple the crag where it stands,

It's then that the tree laughs and sings louder than the waves

And, victorious, shakes the clouds that are high in the sky

With its royal mane.

Oh tree! My heart envies you! Throughout this impure world

Like a holy relic, I shall carry your memory.

Fighting endlessly and achieving victory, ruling over the heights

And feeding on the sky and living on nitid light...

Oh, life! Oh, such a noble destiny!

Rise, oh sturdy soul! Slice the fog in two

And set roots high in heaven, like the tree on the rocky outcrops.

You shall see how this world's raging seas fall at your feet

And your peaceful songs will travel with the winds

Like the shearwater that rides the storm...

Like the shearwater that rides the storm... Ah...

• Artist:Maria del Mar Bonet
• Album:Jardí tancat (1981)