1 For those exiled on earth
   God created birds,
   They chirp away their prayers
   On hill and vale.

2 Happy, flighty children,
   Having chosen their favorite birds,
   Imprison them in cages
   With bars all of gold.

3 O Jesus! our little Brother,
   For us you leave your beautiful Heaven,
   But, Divine Child, you know well,
   Your aviary is Carmel.

4 Our cage is not of gold,
   And yet we love it dearly,
   Never more will we fly
   In the forests or azure plains.

5 Jesus, the groves of this world
   Cannot satisfy us.
   In deep solitude,
   For you alone we want to sing.

6 Your little hand beckons to us.
   Child, how beautiful your charms!
   O Divine Jesus! your smile
   Captivates little birds!—.

7 Here the simple, candid soul
   Finds the object of its love.
   Like the timid dove,
   She no longer fears the vulture.

8 On the wings of prayer,
   We see the fervent heart ascend
   Like the nimble lark
   That rises up so high as it sings.

9 Here we hear the chirping
   Of the wren, of the merry finch,.
   O little Jesus! In their cage
   Your birds warble your name.

10 The little bird sings all the time,
     His life doesn’t worry him.
     One grain of seed makes him happy,
     He never sows here below.

11 Like him in our aviary,
     We receive everything from your hand.
     The one thing necessary
     Is to love you, Divine Child.

12 We also sing your praises,
     United to the pure spirits of Heaven,
     And we know, all the angels
     Love the birds of Carmel.

13 Jesus, to dry the tears
     That sinners make you shed,
     Your birds keep on singing your charms.
     Their sweet songs win hearts for you.

14 One day far from this sad earth,
     When they will hear your call,
     All the birds in your aviary
     Will take flight to heaven.

15 With the charming choirs
     Of merry little Cherubim,
     O Divine Child, we will sing
     Your praises in Heaven.