Taliesin, I sing perfect metre
Which will last to the end of the world
I know why there is an echo in a hollow
Why silver gleams, why breath is black, why liver is bloody
Why a cow has horns, why a woman is affectionate
Why milk is white, why holly is green
Why a kid is bearded, why the cow-parsnip is hollow
Why brine is salt, why ale is bitter
Why the linnet is green, berries red
Why a cuckoo complains, why it sings
I know where the cuckoos of summer are in winter
I know what beasts there are at the bottom of the sea
How many spears in battle, how may drops in a shower
Why a river drowned Pharaoh's people
Why fishes have scales
Why a white swan has black feet
I have been a blue salmon
I have been a dog, a stag, a roebuck on the mountain
A stock, a spade, an axe in the hand
A stallion, a bull, a buck
I was reaped and placed in an oven
I fell to the ground when I was being roasted
And a hen swallowed me
For nine nights was I in her crop
I have been dead, I have been alive
I am Taliesin
Taliesin, I sing perfect metre
Taliesin, canto en métrica perfecta
Which will last to the end of the world
Que durará hasta el fin del mundo
I know why there is an echo in a hollow
Sé por qué hay un eco en un hueco
Why silver gleams, why breath is black, why liver is bloody
Por qué brilla la plata, por qué el aliento es negro, por qué el hígado es sangriento
Why a cow has horns, why a woman is affectionate
Por qué una vaca tiene cuernos, por qué una mujer es cariñosa
Why milk is white, why holly is green
Por qué la leche es blanca, por qué el acebo es verde
Why a kid is bearded, why the cow-parsnip is hollow
Por qué un chivo es barbudo, por qué la cicuta es hueca
Why brine is salt, why ale is bitter
Por qué la salmuera es salada, por qué la cerveza es amarga
Why the linnet is green, berries red
Por qué el pardillo es verde, las bayas rojas
Why a cuckoo complains, why it sings
Por qué se queja el cuco, por qué canta
I know where the cuckoos of summer are in winter
Sé dónde están los cucos de verano en invierno
I know what beasts there are at the bottom of the sea
Sé qué bestias hay en el fondo del mar
How many spears in battle, how may drops in a shower
Cuántas lanzas en batalla, cuántas gotas en una ducha
Why a river drowned Pharaoh's people
Por qué un río ahogó al pueblo de Faraón
Why fishes have scales
Por qué los peces tienen escamas
Why a white swan has black feet
Por qué un cisne blanco tiene patas negras
I have been a blue salmon
He sido un salmón azul
I have been a dog, a stag, a roebuck on the mountain
He sido un perro, un ciervo, un corzo en la montaña
A stock, a spade, an axe in the hand
Un tronco, una pala, un hacha en la mano
A stallion, a bull, a buck
Un semental, un toro, un macho cabrío
I was reaped and placed in an oven
Fui segado y colocado en un horno
I fell to the ground when I was being roasted
Caí al suelo cuando estaba siendo asado
And a hen swallowed me
Y una gallina me tragó
For nine nights was I in her crop
Durante nueve noches estuve en su buche
I have been dead, I have been alive
He estado muerto, he estado vivo
I am Taliesin
Soy Taliesin