Fiacha
Tá fiacha le glanadh - tá!Chuas glan as mo mheabhair lá,
Blianta de bhrón is cathú:
Ní bheidh deireadh leis an gcumha.
Íocfad go bhfaighidh mé bás
An uaigh a thuigeann mo chás,
Faoiseamh beidh romham sa chré
Agus santaímse é.
Cad a cheannaíos - rud suarach!
Níor ghá dom bheith pioc buartha:
Pinginí beaga inné
Sea, ach an t-ús, a Dhé!
The Debt
Paul Laurence Dunbar
This is the debt I payJust for one riotous day,
Years of regret and grief,
Sorrow without relief.
Pay it I will to the end —
Until the grave, my friend,
Gives me a true release —
Gives me the clasp of peace.
Slight was the thing I bought,
Small was the debt I thought,
Poor was the loan at best —
God! but the interest!