La ragazza e l'eremita [English translation]

The girl is very beautiful

and walks with downcast eyes,

the hermit sings the Gloria

for the pebbles and the stones.

The girl has a knife

and sheds tears on it,

the hermit talks to the wolves

hidden in the mountains.

The girl's feet are naked

and covered in nettle sting,

the hermit on his rosary

counts his rediscovered days.

The girl is on the riverbank

and combs her hair

The hermit drinks the water

of sorrow from creeks.

The girl falls asleep

to dream about her first love, the ancient love

The hermit picks up a pebble,

strikes his heart and the heart resounds

but the skies remain silent.

The girl is all white

under the darkening sky

the hermit on her body

picks the flower of the moon.

The girl screams a name,

wakes up suddenly and she looks into his face.

The hermit doesn't answer,

slowly bows his head and hides his face

and the sky darkens.

The girl draws her knife

and stabs herself in the chest.

The hermit picks some ears [of wheat]

and spreads them out on her bed.

The girl goes up in the skies

on the brightest cloud

the hermit lights a fire

and flames illuminate her,

but rain puts out the fire

in the dark, cold night,

the hermit under the skies

screams a prayer.

• Artist:Angelo Branduardi