Do m’Iníon
Nuair a chaillfear mé roghnaigh réalta
Is ainmnigh im’ dhiaidh í
Chun go dtuigfeá
Nár thréigeas thú
Nár dhearúdas thú.
Bhíse, leis, id’ réalta domsa
Is leanas thú trí do bhreith
Is d’óige, lámh liom
Id lámhsa.
Nuair a chaillfear mé
Roghnaigh réalta is ainmnigh í
Im dhiaidhse chun go lonróinn
Ort, go dtí go mbeimid beirt
Sa dorchadas agus sa tost
Le chéile.
For My Daughter
When I die choose a star
and name it after me
that you may know
I have not abandoned
or forgotten you.
You were such a star to me,
following you through birth
and childhood, my hand
in your hand.
When I die
choose a star and name it
after me so that I may shine
down on you, until you join
me in darkness and silence
together.
~ David Ignatow ~
(Against the Evidence: Selected Poems 1934-1994)
(for Erin, on her Birthday)