2014-12-30

Glór an tSeanóra i Measc Scáileanna

Íomhá Angelee Deodhar

Glór an tSeanóra i Measc Scáileanna

Tá an seanóir bailithe leis.
‘Leigheasfaidh teanga an tsionnaigh é!’ a d’fhógair sé.
Cén rud? An triuch? Ní cuimhin liom anois.
Teanga an tsionnaigh, an é sin a dúirt sé
nó an planda atá ansin
luibh shuaimhneasach éigin a fhásann sna coillte
nó i riasc is nach bhfeictear, nó cois mara
i measc an chabáiste aille?

Scáileanna an tráthnóna ag dul i méid.
Sionnach uirbeach gona shúile d’ómra lasta
breathnaíonn orm is imíonn as radharc.

Tost ar fud na bhfud.

Old Man’s Voice Among the Shadows

The old man is gone.
‘The fox’s tongue will cure it!’ he declared.
What? Whooping cough? I can’t remember now.
The tongue of a fox, is that what he meant?
Or is fox’s tongue a plant
a soothing herb that grows in woods
or in a marsh unseen, or by cliffs
among samphire?

Evening shadows grow.
With eyes of flaming amber
an urban fox looks in at me and vanishes.

All is silence now.