Les passantes [English translation]

I want to dedicate this poem

To all the women we love

During a few secret moments

To the ones we barely know

That a different fate carries away

And that we never meet again

To the one we see appearing

One second at the window

And whom, nimble, fades out

But whose svelt figure

Is so gracious and slender

That we remain radiant

To the journey companion

Whose eyes, charming landscape

Turn the path shorter

That we are the only one, maybe, to understand

And still let her walk out

Without grazing her hand

To the thin and supple waltzer

Who seemed to be sad and nervous

That one carnival night

Who asked to remain unknown

And who never came back

Spinning in another ball

To the ones already taken

And whom, living grey hours

Next to a being too different

Let you, useless folly,

See the melancholy

Of a hopeless future

Dear images glanced

Hopes of one day disapointed

You will be in oblivion tomorrow

As soon as happiness comes

It is rare to remember

Episodes of the path

But if one missed his life

He thinks with a bit of envy

To all those delights glimpsed

To the kisses we dared not take

To the hearts must awaiting

To the eyes never seen again

Then, upon weariness nights

While populating one's solitude

Of the ghosts of memories

We cry for the absent lips

Of all those beautiful passer-by

We couldn't hold back

• Artist:Georges Brassens