| Mairbhní ar Oileán Tréigthe | Meditation on a Deserted Island |
 |
|
| Mairbhní ar Oileán Tréigthe | Meditation on a Deserted Island |
| Is mé ar mo mharana ag faire, Leabhar Uí Chriomhthainn im láimh, Ar rince Mhanannáin ilsúiligh Um chríocha an oileáin – Tír ghorm ghainéad is ghuairdeall Go faillte Uíbh Ráthaigh ag síneadh Is an Cnoc Mór mar chloch chinn Ar phaidrín mo bhalla críche … ‘A nae seisean nochtóidh noiméad ar bith,’ Bhí an Tomás seo ag machnamh, ‘Is fillfidh an Tomás eile aneas Ar a róda goitre ón gCathar.’ Ach má gháireann cuan faoi aoibh na gréine, Ceann Sreatha is Binn Dhiarmada, Tá fothrach sramach taobh thíos ag feo Is níl gáir i gcoileach na muintire; Tá Tost ina Rí ar gach maoileann abhus Is tá ceol na ndaoine go follas ar iarraidh; An gadaí gan ghéim, nár fhan, mo léan, Ina pholl taobh thiar den Tiaracht, A réab gan taise thar chuan isteach, A shealbhaigh gort an bhaile seo, A strap anuas trí shúil gach dín Gur shuigh isteach cois teallaigh … Tá sé ag fuireach abhus ó shin; Chím a scáth faoi scáth gach balla, Is an chloch á baint ón gcloch aige, An fhuaim ó gach macalla … |
As I ponder, watching – O’Crohan’s book in my hand – The dance of the many-eyed sea-god Around the island rim, Blue haunts of gannet and petrel Stretch to Iveragh’s cliffs; Knockmore – the final bead – Defines my rosary’s limits. His boat will appear any moment now, This Tomás was thinking, And that other Tomás will return again Along the salt road from Cahirciveen. Waves may sing beneath the sun, Ceann Sreatha and Binn Dhiarmada, But that dank ruin decays below, The village rooster is silent. Death is King of each mountain ridge, The people’s song is stilled Since that robber left his den In the seas to the west of Tiaracht. He swept in here across the bay And seized the village lands, Climbed down every chimney-hole, Sat mute at every hearth. He has ruled here ever since – A shadow in each wall’s shadow – Tumbling stones down from stones, Stealing sound from echoes. |
|
|
||
Tomás
Mac Síomóin |
||
| Ealaíontóir/Artist: Peannaire/Calligrapher: Aistritheoir/Translator: Ainmníodh ag/Nominator: |
Mary Avril Gillan Ann Bowen Aodán Mac Póilín The Author |
|