2025-05-15

ibex

Grianghraf Alice Zilberberg


an t-ibeach
conas a bhain sé amach
an barr?

the ibex
how did he get
to the top?

ibex

Grianghraf Alice Zilberberg


an t-ibeach
conas a bhain sé amach
an barr?

the ibex
how did he get
to the top?

2025-05-14

An talamh naofa


The Holy Land, a 'found poem' in English with an Irish translation by 'finder' Gabriel Rosenstock.
Scots version: John McDonald.
From Mark Twain's travelogue The Innocents Abroad (1869)

The Holy Land



 . . .The relic that touched us most 
was the plain old sword of that stout Crusader, 
Godfrey of Bouillon — King Godfrey of Jerusalem. 

No blade in Christendom wields such enchantment as this — 
no blade of all that rust in the ancestral halls of Europe 
is able to invoke such visions of romance
in the brain of him who looks upon it — 
none that can prate of such chivalric deeds 
or tell such brave tales of the warrior days of old. 

It stirs within a man every memory of the Holy Wars 
that has been sleeping in his brain for years, 
and peoples his thoughts with mail-clad images, 
with marching armies, 
with battles and with sieges. 

It speaks to him of Baldwin, and Tancred, the princely Saladin, 
and great Richard of the Lion Heart.

It was with just such blades as these
that these splendid heroes of romance
used to segregate a man, so to speak, 
and leave the half of him to fall one way
and the other half the other. 

This very sword has cloven hundreds of Saracen Knights 
from crown to chin in those old times 
when Godfrey wielded it. 
It was enchanted, then, by a genius
that was under the command of King Solomon

When danger approached its master's tent 
it always struck the shield
and clanged out a fierce alarm upon the startled ear of night. 

In times of doubt, or in fog or darkness, 
if it were drawn from its sheath
 it would point instantly toward the foe, 
and thus reveal the way — 
and it would also attempt to start after them of its own accord. 

A Christian could not be so disguised that it would not know him 
and refuse to hurt him — 
nor a Moslem so disguised that it would not leap from its scabbard and take his life. 

These statements are all well authenticated 
in many legends that are among the most trustworthy legends 
the good old Catholic monks preserve. 

I can never forget old Godfrey's sword now . . 




An Talamh Naofa

 (dán fríotha in The Innocents Abroad le Mark Twain)

 . . . an t-iarsma is mó a chuaigh i bhfeidhm orainn
ná seanchlaíomh pléineáilte an chrosáidí théagartha úd,
Godfrey Bouillon–Rí Godfrey Iarúsailéim.
Níl claíomh sa Domhan Críostaí chomh draíochtúil leis–
claíomh meirgeach ar bith i hallaí móra na hEorpa

atá in ann aislingí rómánsacha a dhúiseacht
in inchinn an té a dhearcann air–
níl claíomh ar bith in ann gníomhartha gaisce a insint
mar é, ná scéalta laochais go léir ón seanré.

Tosaímid ag cuimhneamh ar na Cogaí Beannaithe
nár smaoiníomar orthu leis na cianta,
agus ár gcuid smaointe breactha le híomhánna
agus cathéide orthu, airm ag máirseáil,
cathanna agus léigir.
Meabhraíonn sé Baldwin dúinn, Tancred, Saladan prionsúil,
agus an rí mór Risteard Leonchroí.

Ba le claíomh mar é a dhein na sárlaochra
an duine a scaradh ó féin, mar a déarfá,
a leath dhe ag titim ar dheis
agus an leath eile ar chlé.

Scoilt an claíomh ceannann céanna seo
agus Godfrey á bhagairt.
na céadta Ridirí Saraistíneacha
ó bhaithis go smig sna seanlaethanta.
Bhí ginid ghlinne sa chlaíomh an uair úd
agus an Rí Solamh i gceannas air:

má tháinig namhaid gar do phuball a mháistir
bhuaileadh an claíomh an sciath –
torann a dhúiseodh na mairbh.
In aimsir an amhrais, má bhí ceo ann nó scamaill dhorcha,

níor ghá ach é a tharraingt ón truaill
agus dhíreodh sé laithreach bonn ar an namhaid,
agus bheadh gach aon ní soiléir ansin–
agus thabharfadh sé faoin namhaid a leanúint as a stuaim féin.

Ní fhéadfadh Críostaí a bheith chomh mór sin faoi bhréagriocht
nach n-aithneodh an claíomh é, gan é a ghortú –
ná Moslamach faoi bhréagriocht nach léimfeadh sé
as an truaill agus deireadh a chur leis.

Tá na ráitis seo go léir fíordheimhnithe
in an-chuid finscéalta, na finscéalta is iontaofa
a chaomhnaigh na seanmhanaigh Chaitliceacha.

Ní dhearúdfaidh mé seanchlaíomh Godfrey go deo . . .


THE HALY LAN

...the relic that muived us maist
wis the ordnar sword o yon stoot crusader,
Godfrey o Bouillon - keeng o Jerusalem.
Nae bled in Chrisendie hauds sic glamourie -
Nae bled that hings rousty in Europe's faimilie ha's
Kin cry furth sic veesions o romance
i the harnpan o yin whae goves on't -
Nane whae kin threep o sic chivalric acks
or threep sic campie clash o the kempies o langsyne.
 It mynds a chiel o the Haly weirs
Myndins doverin in's harnpan sin langsyne,
an fous's thochts wi mail-hapt eemages,
wi mairchin airmies,
wi stoors'n sieges.
It threeps tae'm o Baldwin. an Tankred, the princely Saladin,
an the muckle Richard of The Lion Heart.
It wis wi sic bleds as thir yins
thit thae braw heroes o romance
yaised tae sinder a chiel
Leain hauf o him tae faw yin wey
a hauf tae faw the tither
This verra sword hus cloven hunners o Saracen Knights
Frae croon tae chaft in aulden tymes
whan Godfrey waged it.
It wis forespoken, then, bi a genius
Whae wis unner the bidden o Keeng Soloman
Whan the uncannie oncomes the maister's tent
it ayewis struck the shiel 
an dirlt oot a fell alarm on the lugs o nicht.
In tymes o doot, or haar or derkness,
If drawn frae'ts sheath
It wid pynt tae the foe richt awa,
An sae show the wey -
It wid take aff efter thaim on'ts ain acoont.
A Christian nae maitter whit guise yaised it kent
an sae wid nivver herm -
Nor the Moslem Nae maitter hou guised it wid lowp frae'ts scabbert an tak's life.
Thae threepins'r weel qualifeed
In monie legends, maist amang the maist suithfast
the guid auld Catholic monks preserve.

Ah kin nivver foryet auld Godfrey's sword nou...




2025-05-13

Nicholas Roerich

Nicholas Roerich

go forth
the lantern of day
is lit

amach linn
tá laindéar an lae
lasta

gae furth
the bouet o day
is lichtit
                     
 (Béarla na hAlban: John McDonald)


αναχωρήστε
η λάμπα της ημέρας
είναι αναμμένη

         (Gréigis: Sarah Thilykou

2025-05-12

Namaste!



did you hear?
trees answer Krishnamurti's greeting:
Namaste!

ar chuala tú iad?
crainn ag freagairt do bheannú Krishnamurti:
Namaste!

escuchaste?
los árboles responden el saludo de Krishnamurti:
Namaste!

 (Spáinnis: Patricia Jiménez) 

     did ye hear't?
     treen repone tae Krishnamurti's goam:     
     Namaste!

                         
 (Béarla na hAlban: John McDonald)

2025-05-11

Taobhú / Taking Sides

(Sir John Tenniel)


Taobhú
 leis an Raibi Irwin Keller

Táim chun taobhú a dhéanamh inniu.
Táim chun taobhú leis an tSíocháin.
An tSíocháin, nach dtréigfidh mé go deo
fiú má mhúchann gortú
agus fuath guth na Síochána,
nó an goirteamas a leanann cailliúint,
na glórtha a deir 'ceart' is 'éigeart'.
Táimse ag taobhú leis an tSíocháin
nár luadh a hainm ach ar éigean
sa chogadh seo nach féidir a bhuachan.
Teannfaidh mé an tSíocháin le m'ucht,
M'anáilse á roinnt léi
ar eagla go n-áireofaí an tSíocháin
mar chuid de líon na marbh.
Éileoidh mé bearta chun maolú a dhéanamh ar an gcoimhlint
fiú má tá fonn díoltais orm
thar aon ní eile.
Déanfad ar mhaithe leis an tSíocháin é.
Cruthóidh mé réiteach sa mhothar úd
ar a dtugtar cúis agus éifeacht
chun go mbeadh an tSíocháin in ann anáil a tharraingt
ar feadh nóiméid
agus í féin a dhíriú chun na spéire.
Déanfadsa aon ní
chun beatha na Síochána a shábháil.
Análóidh mé trí dheora
ólfad deoch ar mo náire
coinneoidh mé guaim ar mo theanga
ofrálfadsa grá
gan mo cháilíocht chuige sin a thástáil.
Mar sin, ná hiarr orm bratach a chroitheadh inniu
nach bratach na Síochána í.
Ná hiarr orm aintiún a chanadh inniu
nach aintiún Síochána é
ná hiarr orm taobhú a dhéanamh
nach taobhú leis an tSíocháin é.
                                  
                                            An Raibí Irwin Keller
                                                 
(Irish transcreation: Gabriel Rosenstock)
                                                 


TAKKIN SIDES 

The-day ah'm takkin sides.
Ah'm takkin the side o Pace.
 Pace, whilk ah'll niver gie up on
e'en whan its vyce is droont oot
bi skaith an laithin,
wershness o loss,
skirlins o richt an wrang.

Ah'm takkin the side o Pace
whaes nem's haurdly been threepit
i this yuisless weir.

Ah'll haud Pace i ma airms,
an skare ma bouk's braith,
least Pace be jyned
tae the coont o the deid.

Ah'll cry tae thaim fir easement
e'en whan a waant naethiin mair
nor tae git even.
Ah'll dae't
tae ser Pace.

Ah'll redd a space
i the owergrowne
busses o cause an effect
so Pace kin souch
fir a meenit
syne rax fir the lift.

Ah'll dae whit must be duin
tae sauf the life o Pace.
Ah'll souch throuch ma greitin.
Ah'll swallae ma pride.
Ah'll gnap ma tung.
Ah'll bode luve
weel-wared or no.

Dinnae speir me tae waff a flag the day
onless it's the flag o Pace.
Dinnae speir fir an anthem
onless it's a sang o Pace.
Dinnae speir me tae tak sides
onless it's the side o Pace.
                                              
Leagan Béarla na hAlban: John McDonald



2025-05-10

Musica Universalis

Musica Universalis

An cumadóir Ostarach Giúdach
Alban Berg
(An gá Giúdach a rá?
An gá Ostarach a rá?)
Tosnaigh arís . . .
An cumadóir
Alban Berg
(An gá cumadóir a rá?)
Is cuma má b'Ostarach é
Is cuma má ba Ghiúdach é
Is cuma má ba chumadóir é

Go deimhin, níor Ghiúdach in aon chor é
ach ó dhein sé staidéar faoi Arnold Schoenberg -
ba leor sin!

Tháinig mé ar ghrianghraf d'Alban Berg
agus é ar leaba a bháis
baineadh siar asam.
Glacaim leis gurb é fórsa na beatha ionainn
a iompaíonn in aghaidh íomhánna an bháis sinn.
Íomhánna lán de bheatha is d'fhuinneamh
a bhíonn timpeall orainn
an t-am ar fad.
Nuair a fheicimid íomhá an bháis
cúbaimid siar uaithi
ach amháin, ar ndóigh, más ilíomhánna iad
cuir i gcás iad siúd a chailltear in Gaza, gan chall

Phrioc feithid Alban Berg
agus dá dheasca sin
fágadh neascóid ar a dhroim
a dhein nimhiú ar a chuid fola

Na mairbh in Gaza
cén nimh a mharaigh iad?
An bhfuil frithnimh ar fáil?

P.S. Tá astaróideach sna flaithis a ainmníodh in ómós do Berg
thuas ansin áit éigin, ag foghlaim Cheol na Sféar.
Cá bhfuil na hastaróidigh in ómós do shlua na marbh in Gaza?


Musica Universalis

The Austrian Jewish composer
Alban Berg
(Do we need to say Jewish?
Do we need to say Austrian?)
Start again . . .
The composer
Alban Berg
(Do we need to say composer?)

It doesn't matter that he was Austrian
It doesn't matter that he was Jewish
It doesn't matter that he was a composer

In fact, he wasn't Jewish at all
but since he studied under Arnold Schoenberg -
that was enough!

I came across a photo of Alban Berg
on his deathbed
I was taken aback.
I suppose it's the life force within us
that automatically rejects images of death.
Surrounded as we are
by images of life and liveliness

on seeing an image of death
we shrink from it
unless, of course, the image is multiplied daily on our screens
as in the spectacle of those who die needlessly in Gaza.

Alban Berg died from the bite of an insect
resulting in
a furuncle (or boil) on his back
which lead to blood poisoning

The dead of Gaza
What is the poison?
What the antidote?

P. S. There's an asteroid in the heavens named after Berg
up there somewhere, learning the Music of the Spheres!
Where are the asteroids to honour the Gazan dead?




MUSICA UNIVERSALIS


The Austrian Jewish upmakker
Alban Berg
(Whit need tae mou Jewish?
Whit need tae mou Austrian?)
Stert ower...
The upmakker
Alan Berg
(Whit need tae mou upmakker?)

It disnae maitter he wis Austrian
It disnae maitter he wis Jewish
It disnae maitter he wis an upmakker

as a maitter o fact, he wisnae Jewish ataw
bit bein a prentice o Arnold Schoenberg -
that wis eneuch!

Ah cam ower a photy o Alan Berg
on's daithbed
It wis sica dint.
Ah jalouse it's the life wi'in us
thit naitrally rejecks eemages o daith.
Ringit roon bi eemages
o life an smeddum 
whan daith hysts its heid
we coorie frae't
onless, o coorse, the eemage growes ilka day on oor screens
lik the scunnersum sicht o thae whae dee (fir whit need?) in Gaza.

Alban Berg deed frae the gnap o a beastie
whase efterins
wis a bile on's back
syne bluid puzzenin.

The deid o Gaza
Whit's the puzzen?
Whit's the cuir?

P.S. i the heivens thair's an asteroid nemmit efter Berg abuin sumwhaur, lairnin the Maisic o the Spheres!
Whaur'r the asteroids nemmit fir Gaza's deid?
 (Béarla na hAlban: John McDonald)