I Nairë Ciryaquenion
NOTE: This is a general translation of a song I wrote in English, so it has a pattern of two verses and a refrain. Stress is not noted because in Quenya, there is no rhyme scheme or meter. Hopefully it's mostly accurate -- if anyone sees any errors, please point them out to me!
I Nairë Ciryaquenion
Lempë löar avánier mal séyëa lil andavë
Ar yando avánielyë
Mal i véri melmiva löar illumë lil tulca
Eleni quilderi sílar ëarinna
Vi míri ya hehtanelyë
Ar i falmar ya apparëar cirya nar peulya appiën
Ëar ná ringa ar morna nu
I laurë palmiva
Ar hehtuvanyë ilya mal nyérë
Ëar, ar elyë an illumë
Mai quettin lingwë-lindë, hlaruvalyë yellinya?
Mí rangwer aneressëar mardealyë
Nat núro-vendë mí parder arnar ëariva
Cenin antalya mí lango-nís
Tulyealyën illumë avaháya
Ar nat er vanwa, meldanyë, ú-firin
Ëar ná ringa ar morna nu
I laurë palmiva
Ar hehtuvanyë ilya mal nyérë
Ëar, ar elyë an illumë
Andavë aránienyë, ciryaquen ar raumoroquen
Lirië asácienyël earinna úvoronda
Ná I nissë milca, ar fëayna ná vanwa
Melnenyel acca olë ar avaleryanelyes
Ar i Anar calëa calimavë or i nén síra
Mal i ëar ne avaleryanel ar ëas mi inyë
Ar ilyë, meldanyë ëa illumë yando mi inyë
Ëar ná ringa ar morna nu
I laurë palmiva
Ar hehtuvanyë ilya mal nyérë
Ëar, ar elyë an illumë
~*~*~*~*~
NOTE 2: I have taken a few small liberties here, changing the English from the literal Quenya to make it flow more smoothly (ie: more long --> longer), and because not all the words I wanted are attested. Significant changes have the literal translated word(s) in brackets, ie: kiss [touch]
The Sailor’s Lament
Five years have gone but it seems much longer
And you have vanished too
But the bonds of love grow ever stronger
Silent stars shimmer upon the sea
Like the diamonds you forsook
And the waves that kiss [touch] the hull [ship] are your lips kissing [touching] me
The sea is cold and dark below
The surface's golden shine
And I will forget all but the desolate,
The ocean, and you for all of time
If I speak in whale-song will you answer my calls?
In the loneliest fathoms you're dwelling
You're a lady-in-waiting in the ocean's parlor halls
I see your face in that of my figurehead [prow-woman]
You lead me far and ever away
And you're only lost, my darling, never dead
The sea is cold and dark below
The surface's golden shine
And I will forget all but the desolate,
The ocean, and you for all of time
Long have I wandered, a stormriding sailor
Singing I've sought you on the treacherous sea
She is a jealous [greedy] mistress, and I am a failure [my soul is lost]
I loved you too well and she took you away from me
And the sun shines brightly over the water today
But 'twas the sea who took you and she lives in me
And you, my beloved, live ever too in me
The sea is cold and dark below
The surface's golden shine
And I will forget all but the desolate,
The ocean, and you for all of time
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