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| An tAthair Tom Jones |
Ophelia an Phiarsaigh
‘We knew her well, and she was the most nobly planned of all the women we have known.’ An PiarsachBhí an fhoirmle ag an Athair Tom
an chantaireacht
na briathra is na frásaí
an tslí cheart chun iad a rá
is aige a bhí an phaidir
an rithim agus an tuinairde chuige
pé rud a thabharfá air
ortha is dócha
nó an mantra a bhí ann?
bhí ar a chumas an t-anam
a ghlaoch ar ais
ar ais i gcolainn Eibhlín
Ophelia an Phiarsaigh
Eibhlín chaomh Nic Niocaill
mo chreach, Eibhlín bhocht
a bádh is í ar cuairt ar an mBlascaod
ní fhéadfadh sé é a dhéanamh
ní dhéanfadh
ní thiocfadh na focail chuige
níor thánadar
ní thiocfaidís óna bhéal
ó bhíodar aige ambaist
an tAthair Tom – Asarlaí –
na siollaí suairce sin a mheallfadh anam
Eibhlín Nic Niocaill
an spiorad íonghlan aici á chuimilt ar ais ina corp goirt
le cogarnaíl ársa
bhí fhios ag cách é
bhí fhios ag an domhan mór go rabhadar aige
ach is faoi ghlas istigh ann a bhíodar
ní balbh a bhí na mná caointe:
mo ghraidhn thú, a Eibhlín,
mo ghraidhn do mháthair,
mo ghraidhn go brách í!
abair liom an fhoirmle
atá in ann cor a chur sa stair!
thug an tAthair Tom chun na huaighe leis é mar rún
Gabriel Rosenstock
Pearse’s Ophelia
‘We knew her well, and she was the most nobly planned of all the women we have known.’ P. H. PearseFather Tom had the formula
the chant
the words and phrases
the exact way to utter them
he had the prayer
the rhythm and pitch of it
the tone
whatever it was
the charm
incantation
was it a mantra
he could have called the soul
calling it back
back into the body of Eibhlín
Pearse’s Ophelia
Eibhlín Nic Niocaill
alas, poor Eibhlín
drowned on a visit to the Blaskets
he couldn’t do it
wouldn’t do it
couldn’t say the words
they wouldn’t come to him
wouldn’t come out of his mouth
oh he had them alright
Father Tom – Conjuror –
every precious syllable to snare the soul
of Eibhlín Nic Niocaill
massaging the pure spirit back into her briny body
with ancient whisperings
everyone knew it
everyone knew he had them
but they were locked inside him
frozen
keening women found words to wail her:
mo ghraidhn thú, a Eibhlín,
mo ghraidhn do mháthair,
mo ghraidhn go brách í!
What is the formula
that can change history?
Father Tom brought his cold secret with him to the grave.
Gabriel Rosenstock
Pearse’s Ophelia
Faither Tam had it in haun
the chaunt
the wurds
the perfeck wye tae mou thaim
he hud the guid wurd
the stot'n tuin o't
the souch
whitivver it wis
the chairm
cantrip
wis't a mantra
he micht hae cried the sowl
cryin't back
back intae the bodie o Eibhlín
Pearse's Ophelia
Eibhlín Nic Niocaill
waes me pair Eibhlín
droont veesitin the Blaskets
he cudnae dae't
widnae dae't
cudnae threep the wurds
they widnae cum tae'm
widnae leave's mou
och he hud thaim a'richt
Faither Tam - mageecian -
the precious syllab tae fankil the sowl
o Eibhlín Nic Niocaill
straikin the pure spreit back intae'r sautit bodie
wi auncient fusperins
awbodie kent
awbodie kent he hud thaim
bit they wir sneckit inby'm
jeelt
girnin weemen fund wurds tae pewl fir'r:
mo ghraidhn thú, a Eibhlín,
mo ghraidhn do mháthair,
mo ghraidhn go brách í!
whit's the wye o't
thit'll chynge history?
Faither Tam cairrit his cauld saicret wi'm tae's lair
