Së ch'lâ muntagna pughêsën parlâ

This poem was written by the "Valdese, NC Patois Class of 1978." This class was taught at Wester Piedmont Community College in order to revive the local Patouà. In this recording, the poem is read by Gus TRON.




Da Pumaret, fin amunt a Prâl
Süü lâ muntagna, ënt lî cumbâl
L'aire e pür e përfümà
Dë flur, dë tutta calità

Së ch'lâ muntagna pughêsën parlâ
Chë dë storia lâ puriën cuntiâ
L'ero pâ sampre "roz e fiur'
Ma dë masaccre, e dë dulur

Lâ puriën nu dire soc e aribà
Ch'lo "Diamengio d'Paco" a Rorà
Lâ párlëriën dë Janavel e d'Arnaud
Dë Balsilho, col Julian, e Sibaud

Ma, lâ muntagna poën pâ parlâ
La resto a nuz'autri a laudâ
Lu curagge dî velh Vaudois
Ch'an tant süfert për gardâ l'ur "foi"

Tönöit, nu selebrën la liberta
Chë li Vaudois an dür gagna
Nu fêtën la memorio
D'üno storio, plêno d'glorio.


From Pmaretto, up to Prali
on the mountain tops and in the valleys,
The air was perfumed
with the scent of many flowers

If those mountains could only talk,
what stories they could unfold!
It wasn't always "wine and roses,"
but massacres, anguish, and pain.

They could tell us what transpired
that "bloody Easter" in Rora;
They would speak of Janavel and Arnaud,
of Balsigla, Julian Pass, and Sibaud.

But alas! those mountains cannot talk;
so it's up to us to laud
the brave Waldenses, who for so long,
suffered so much, to keep their faith.

Tonight, we celebrate the liberty
those Waldenses so dearly won.
Tonight, we honor the memory
of a story filled with glory.