Words of a Watchman

Proto-Indo-European Poetry: A Love Song from the Roots of Language

Proto-Indo-European (PIE) is the reconstructed common ancestor of most languages spoken today from Europe to the Indian subcontinent, including English, Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, Persian, and many others. Though no written records of PIE exist, linguists have been able to reconstruct much of its vocabulary, grammar, and phonology through the comparative method. PIE is more than a linguistic curiosity; it offers a window into the minds and metaphors of the distant past.

This article presents a short love poem originally written in English, then translated directly into reconstructed Proto-Indo-European. The poem draws on elemental themes: stars, water, song, and light, allowing us to explore how PIE speakers might have expressed such enduring emotions. The woman addressed in the poem is named Meredydd, a Welsh name that we retain unchanged in the PIE rendering.

The Original English Poem

> In the higher heavens, Meredydd is a bright star
> All looks on her singing a song of revival.
> Her smile shining like the first morning,
> And her eyes, pure water from the forgotten river.
>
> In the heart of summer, when the flowers bloom
> My love is the sweetest, most magical of all.
> Her hair like golden sand from the beaches of Wales,
> And her skin is like snow white, so clean and so sweet.
>
> In the silent forest, when the birds sing
> Her voice encouraging every heart that is sad.
> Like the music of the breeze playing through the trees
> Meredydd, my love, steals my heart.
>
> I will forever be grateful for your presence
> You, my Meredydd, are the star of my life.
> In a world of storms and rough weather
> I find comfort and peace in your company.
>
> O my love, star of night and light of day
> I adore you, forever and ever.

Annotated PIE Translation (Selected Lines)

Line 1: “In the higher heavens, Meredydd is a bright star.”
PIE: en déḱm̥ h₁ébhos supérl̥yo, Meredydd h₂stᴗ́r bʰréh₂tēr esti.

• en — in
• déḱm̥ — brightness, light
• h₁ébhos — the heavens (plural)
• supérl̥yo — higher (superlative adjective)
• Meredydd — proper name
• h₂stᴗ́r — star
• bʰréh₂tēr — bright
• esti — is

Line 3: “Her smile shining like the first morning.”
PIE: sméh₂tis bʰréh₂tēr esti kʷoyom h₁éwsōs.

• sméh₂tis — smile
• bʰréh₂tēr — bright
• esti — is
• kʷoyom — like (used here metaphorically)
• h₁éwsōs — dawn

Line 12: “Meredydd, my love, steals my heart.”
PIE: Meredydd, meh₁yós, k̥r̥dóm méghnti.

• Meredydd — retained as proper name
• meh₁yós — my beloved
• k̥r̥dóm — heart (accusative)
• méghnti — she takes / seizes (from megʰh-, to grab or take)

Line 20: “I adore you, forever and ever.”
PIE: meh₁yéti tú, sewól kʷol-ónti.

• meh₁yéti — I love (1st singular from meh₁y-)
• tú — you
• sewól — always, eternal time
• kʷol-ónti — through cycles (figurative, poetic)

Full PIE Version of the Poem

en déḱm̥ h₁ébhos supérl̥yo, Meredydd h₂stᴗ́r bʰréh₂tēr esti.
ólyos wéydonti deyḱénti h₁mel- h₂nᴗ́rɡh₁esyo.
sméh₂tis bʰréh₂tēr esti kʷoyom h₁éwsōs.
kʷn̥h₃téh₂ h₂ékʷeh₂ wódr̥ h₁n̥pl̥téh₂s h₂pótis.

en kʷr̥déi semrós, kʷomtéh₂ bʰléyonti,
meh₁yós swādwiyós esti, mágʕisyo ólyo.
pᵐl̥kʷos h₁éyos kʷoyom h₂r̥óm ghéslom Wélsos.
déḱm̥tis kʷoyom snéygʰhos h₂réytēr, kʷléwos, swādwos.

en dʰémos n̥méh₁os, h₁ésonti h₁ówis bʰléh₁onti,
wókʷs h₂éh₁nti kʷr̥dóm déwmōm.
h₁mel-dʰom kónos h₁éyonti dóru-meti.
Meredydd, meh₁yós, k̥r̥dóm méghnti.

bher-mi déiwos h₁ésmi teyóh₁wos.
tú, Meredydd meh₁yós, h₂stᴗ́r esti gʳweh₃wíh₁syo.
en h₁érmos kʷr̥méh₂tēr dʰegʰhórom.
h₁labh-mi kʷléwos sémtih₂s teyóh₁wos.

ó meh₁yós, h₂stᴗ́r n̥kʷwtós, bʰréh₂tēr dyéws.
meh₁yéti tú, sewól kʷol-ónti.

Conclusion

This experiment illustrates how even a deeply personal and lyrical poem can be expressed — albeit imperfectly — in the ancient, reconstructed vocabulary of Proto-Indo-European. It’s a testament to the power of comparative linguistics that we can breathe poetic life into a language not spoken for over six thousand years.

The PIE version of the poem retains a haunting and evocative quality, drawing on elemental words and primordial metaphors that transcend millennia. And though no bard of the Copper Age would have composed this exact song, they might have recognized its themes: love, wonder, longing, and joy.

References

• Beekes, R. S. P. (2011). Comparative Indo-European Linguistics: An Introduction. John Benjamins.
• Fortson, B. W. (2010). Indo-European Language and Culture: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Watkins, C. (1995). How to Kill a Dragon: Aspects of Indo-European Poetics. Oxford University Press.
• Ringe, D. (2006). From Proto-Indo-European to Proto-Germanic. Oxford University Press.
• Mallory, J. P., & Adams, D. Q. (1997). Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture. Fitzroy Dearborn.