Mareta [English translation]

Mommy, last night I dreamed

about a little doll

you had bought me.

The doll had

very curly hair,

a face so fine

and pretty eyes.

Mommy, when I awoke

my beloved doll

was over my lap,

the doll I sang to

was real.

I cradled her,

she wanted to sleep,

a la nonineta a la nonina.1

She had a little dress

embroided with dreams

with a red bow

and felt shoes.

During the short night,

by candlelight

you had spent it sewing

her hands, nose and eyes.

Mommy, my dreams go on

the doll looks at me

the way that you do.

If the wind awakens me

with haunting howls

I will embrace her

heart to heart.

The wind calms down,

and sleep reaches me.

1. Something like 'sleep little doll, sleep', basically singing her to sleep.