To the New Year
With what stillness at lastyou appear in the valley
your first sunlight reaching down
to touch the tips of a few
high leaves that do not stir
as though they had not noticed
and did not know you at all
then the voice of a dove calls
from far away in itself
to the hush of the morning
so this is the sound of you
here and now whether or not
anyone hears it this is
where we have come with our age
our knowledge such as it is
and our hopes such as they are
invisible before us
untouched and still possible
W S Merwin
Don Bhliain Nua
Nach tostmhar mar a nochtann túsa deireadh thíos sa ghleann
an chéad gha gréine uait á shíneadh síos
chun bheith le barr na nduilleog ard
nach gcorraíonn puinn
faoi mar nár thugadar faic faoi ndeara
is gan aon chur amach acu ort
glaonn colm ansin
a ghuth ann i gcéin
chun ciúnas na maidine
sé seo mar sin do ghlór-sa
anois díreach pé acu an gcloistear
nó nach gcloistear é táimid tagtha
ár n-aois is ár n-eolas mar atá
agus ár ndóchas ar fad
os ár gcomhair amach dofheicthe
acmhainn nach bhfuiltear fós i ngleic léi
Gabriel Rosenstock
Tae the New Year
Wae whit quate it lang'n lastye kythe i the glen
yer furst sinlicht raxes doon
tae tig the taps o a pickle
heich leaves thit dinnae steer
as tho they hidnae taen tent
an didnae ken ye ava
syne the vice o a doo croons
frae the deepths o'ts sel
tae the lown o the mornin
sae this's the soond o ye
here'n nou whither or no
oniebodie hearkens tae't
here's whaur we've cum tae wi aw oor eild
an aw oor lear sic as it is
an oor howps sic as they are
unveesible afore us
untuichit an aye possible