A Blessing
Just off the Highway to Rochester, Minnesota
Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
There is no loneliness like theirs.
At home once more,
They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.
I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
For she has walked over to me
And nuzzled my left hand.
She is black and white,
Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
That is delicate as the skin over a girl's wrist.
Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom.
~ James Wright ~
(Above the River)
Tíolacadh
Tamall ón Mórbhealach go Rochester, Minnesota
léimeann an clapsholas amach go séimh ar na féartha
agus dorchaíonn súile an dá chapall Indiacha
le cineáltacht.
Thánadar go háthasach amach as na crainn sailí
chun fáilte a chur romhainn, mé féin is mo chompánach.
Thar an sreang dheilgneach linn isteach sa bhféarach
áit a rabhadar ag ithe ar feadh an lae, leo féin.
Mionluasc teann na matán, ní cheileann siad an ríméad
atá orthu.
Umhlaíonn siad go scáfar mar ealaí sa linn. Grá acu dá chéile.
Níor sáraíodh riamh a n-uaigneas.
Istigh iontu féin arís
tosaíonn siad ar chúpla tom óg earraigh a mhungailt sa dorchadas.
Ba dheas liom barróg a bhreith ar an gcapall is caoile orthu,
mar tá sise tar éis siúl chugam anall
is í ag sróinínteacht ar mo lámh chlé.
Capall dubh is bán í
an mhoing in aimhréidh ar a clár éadain
agus griogann leoithne mé chun cluas fhada léi a mhuirniú
cluas atá chomh mín le craiceann ar rosta cailín.
i bhfaiteadh na súl, tuigtear dom
dá siúlfainn amach as mo cholainn go
bpéacfainn faoi bhláth