An paróiste míorúilteach The miraculous parish

Máire Mhac an tSaoi

Rogha dánta Selected poems

In eagar ag Louis de PaorEdited by Louis de Paor

Cló Iar-ChonnachtIndreabhánConamara

38

39

poems

40

Oíche Nollag

Le coinnle na n-aingeal tá an spéir amuigh breactha,

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Adaigh an tine is téir chun na leapan,

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Fágaig’ an doras ar leathadh ina coinne,

An mhaighdean a thiocfaidh is a naí ar a hucht,

Deonaigh scíth an bhóthair a ligint, a Mhuire,

Luíodh Mac Dé ins an tigh seo anocht.

Bhí soilse ar lasadh i dtigh sin na haíochta,

Cóiriú gan caoile, bia agus deoch,

Do cheannaithe olla, do cheannaithe síoda,

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41

Christmas Eve

With candles of angels the sky is now dappled,

The frost on the wind from the hills has a bite,

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Jesus will lie in this household tonight.

Leave all the doors wide open before her,

The Virgin who’ll come with the child on her breast,

Grant that you’ll stop here tonight, Holy Mary,

That Jesus a while in this household may rest.

The lights were all lighting in that little hostel,

There were generous servings of victuals and wine,

For merchants of silk, for merchants of woollens,

But Jesus will lie in this household tonight. (GF)

42

Do Shíle

Cuimhním ar sheomra ó thaobh na farraige,

Aniar is aneas do bheireadh scríb air,

Is báisteach ar fhuinneoig ina clagarnaigh,

Gan sánas air ó thitim oíche,

Is is cuimhin liom go rabhais ann, a Shíle,

Suite go híseal cois na tine

Is an fáinne óir ar do mhéir linbh.

Do thugais dúinn amhrán croíbhuartha,

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Comharthaí grá ón bhFrainc ar cuairt chughainn –

Bhí gile do chinn mar an t-airgead luachra

Fé sholas an lampa leagtha ar bord ann.

Nach cuma feasta, a naí bhig, eadrainn

Deighilt na mblianta nó fuatha an charadais?

Dob é mo dhán an tráth san t’aithne.

43

For Sheila

I remember a room on the seaward side –

The squall caught it from the south-west –

And rain a tattoo on the window

Unslackening since the fall of night,

And I remember that you were there, Sheila,

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You gave us a heartbroken song

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Love’s catalogue brought here from France –

The fairness of your head was like the meadowsweet

Under the light of the lamp set on the table.

What do they matter more, little dear one, between us,

Separation of years, and aversions bred of friendship?

It was my lot to know you at that time. (VI)

44

Comhrá ar shráid

Ar leacacha na sráide

Nuair tharla ort an lá san

Do labhrais chugham chomh tláith sin

Am fhiafraí go muinteartha

Gur bhog an t-aer im thimpeall,

Aer bocht leamh na cathrach,

Le leoithne bhog aniar chughainn

Ó dhúthaigh cois farraige

Inar chuireas ort aithne . . .

An tsiúráil réidh sin,

Fios do bhéasa féin agat,

Teann as do Ghaelainn,

As do dheisbhéalaí

Mhín chúirtéisigh –

Ní leanbh ó aréir mé,

A Chiarraígh shéimh sin,

Ach creid mé gur fhéadais

Mé a chur ó bhuíochas

Mo dhaoine féinig.

45

Street-talk

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That day we happened to meet

You spoke to me so kindly

Asking courteously how I was,

That the air softened around me,

The dull impoverished city air,

With a little breeze you brought

From the west, from that place

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And knowing how to behave,

Certain of your language,

Your gentle wit and

Courtly ability with it –

I was not born yesterday,

My gracious Kerry friend,

But believe me you could have

Turned me away from

My nearest and dearest. (LP)