Arany János - Győrei Zsolt (szerk.): The trill of the nightingale (Budapest, 2019)

Tender Farewell (Thomas Cooper)

Tender Farewell

A single coat is all I have,

In winter freeze, in summer breeze.

Now this old friend takes his leave too,

I barely grasp his fraying sleeves.

Old coat, why do you leave me now? You’ll find no other faithful breast To warm, no loving owner who Would clutch your tatters to his chest.

And you yourself are old, infirm,

You cannot bear fresh air, you’ve thinned, I’ve always shared with you my warmth So you’d withstand the whistling wind.

I never pledged eternal love In front of priest, but I was true.

The fancy mantles winked in vain,

No tassels lured my gaze from you.

To leave you I had funds enough! Divorce? A single word is all It would have cost from me, and now, You’d be at most a tattered shawl.

In better times - unlike most friends - I never strayed, your flaws despite!

And now, as I have means no more To fill your pockets you take flight?