He who says I love you
is a mournful minstrel
who has lost his song.

If only love
had a tongue to speak.

A thousand happy larks
fly in your eyes,
a thousand canaries
fall silent in my throat.

If only love
had a tongue to speak.

He who says I love you
is the night’s blue heart
searching for moonlight.

If only love
had a tongue to speak.

A thousand laughing suns
in your footsteps,
a thousand weeping stars
in my desire.

If only love could speak.

Translation by Sholeh Wolpé