Hermann Hesse – Nastri rossi / Red ribbons

Jean Beraud, Evening soiree, 1878

Red ribbons!
You remind me of 
music and white clothes –
a party, which has long since faded.
Red ribbons!
My girlfriend was
down on the balcony railing,
she laughed and gave me her hand.
And she gave me two ribbons
of red silk.
I left, and crossed so many lands.
When I returned, she was already dead.

(Transl. by D. Foglia)

Nastri rossi!
Mi ricordate
musica e vestiti bianchi,
una festa, che da parecchio svanì.
Nastri rossi!
La mia ragazza stette
piegata alla ringhiera del balcone
e rise e mi diede la mano.
E mi diede due nastri 
di seta rossa.
Son partito e tante terre ho attraversato.
Quando son tornato, era già morta.

This is a personal translation. Please contact me if you know another English translation.