O mother, darling mother, lost in time's formless haze 
Amidst the leaves' sweet rustle you call my name always; 
Amidst their fluttering murmur above your sacred grave  
I hear you softly whisper whene'er the branches wave; 
While o'er your tomb the willows their autumn raiment heap... 
For ever wave the branches, and you for ever sleep. 

When l shall die, beloved, do not beside me mourn, 
But break a branch of blossom that does the lime adorn, 
And take it very softly, and plant it at my head; 
I'll feel its shadow growing as on the soil it's shed; 
And watered by the tears that you for sorrow weep... 
For ever grow that shadow, and l for ever sleep. 

And should it be together that we shall die one day, 
They shall not in some cemet'ry our separate bodies lay, 
But let them dig a grave near where the river flows 
And in a single coffin them both together close; 
That l to time eternal my love beside me keep... 
For ever wail the water, and we for ever sleep. 

English version by Corneliu M. Popescu