Sneachta

 

Sneachta

go siúlaím tríd

ar mo shlí chugat

 

go ndeineann mo chosa

rian silteach ann

 

go gcuireann a thost

uaigneas orm

 

go bplúchann a ghile ghéar

cágaíl dhubh an phréacháin ionam

 

go míníonn a mhíne

an gleann im’ bholg

 

gur toll

an t-aer a análaím

dá bharr

 

gur chugat

a shiúlaím tríd

mar shneachta

 

a ríon bhán

 

a ríon bhán gheal

 

a ríon bhán gheal atá ar lár

 

 

Snow

I walk through

on my way to you

 

that I leave

trickling footprints in

 

the silence of which

makes me lonesome

 

the sharp whiteness of which smothers

the black cawing of the crow in me

 

the smoothness of which smoothes

the valley in my stomach

 

which causes

the air I breathe

to feel empty

 

that I walk

through

to you

 

my fair queen

 

my bright fair queen

 

my bright fair queen that is gone

 

 

Siuil Leat

 

gan eolas slí a chur:

 

mar a chumann an spéir

a lá fhéin,

 

mar a líonann taoide ghlé

a bá fhéin,

 

mar a ghearrann gach gaoth

a gréasán fhéin,

 

deineann cosa

a gcosán fhéin.

 

 

Walk

 

without seeking directions:

 

as the sky shapes

its own day,

 

as the clear tide

fills its own bay,

 

as each breeze

carves its own trace

 

feet make

their own way.

 

 

 Nebraska

Seo linn go Nebraska:

 

tá an féar ann ard

agus na daoine níos airde,

tá na bóithre ann díreach

agus na daoine níos dírí,

 

nó sin a shamhlaím.

 

Seo linn go Dubrovnik:

 

tá an spéir ann álainn

is na daoine níos aoibhne

tá an fíon ann mín

is na daoine níos míne,

 

nó sin a shamhlaím.

 

Seo linn trasna féarthailte,

ag glamaíl leis na réalta

seo linn fan cóstaí gréine

ag tógaint an aeir.

 

Seo linn ’dtí’n bPatagóine,

nó go Com Dhíneoil.

 

Déanaimis orainn fhéin arís:

 

táimse ard

is táim díreach,

 

tá tusa álainn

agus mós mín,

 

nó sin a shamhlaímse i gcónaí.

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s head for Nebraska:

 

the grass there is tall

and the people are taller,

the roads there are straight

and the people are straighter,

 

or that’s how I imagine it.

 

Let’s head for Dubrovnik:

 

the sky there is beautiful

and the people more pleasant,

the wine there is smooth

and the people are smoother,

 

or that’s how I imagine it.

 

Let’s cross prairies

howling at the stars

Let’s travel coasts of sunshine

taking the air.

 

Let’s head for Patagonia

or Cuminole.

 

Let’s head back to ourselves again:

 

I am tall

and I’m straight.

 

you are beautiful

and so suave,

 

or at least that’s how I always see it.