Notti bianche [English translation]

Sleepless nights—

all alone in my bed,

shadows on the ceiling

descend on me.

It is not the smell of sulfur—

not even incense—

that strong scent

that you left behind here.

I do not cry about us,

but I loved you so much

that I forgot the world and myself

in order to have you.

I will go out

with the first one

that I meet on the street—

I will go out.

And, with him—

with him I will do

what pleased you—

pleased you.

Oh—I will take a thousand,

another thousand lovers—

a thousand sleepless nights

just to forget you.

Oh—yes, even if

I could do that,

I might suffer less but

I will not succeed.

~~~~~

I will go out

with the first one

that I meet on the street—

I will go out.

And, with him—

with him I will do

what you taught me—

you.

Oh yes, it is wrong—

so much to die for—

if you knew when you

would return here.