1
I gcré na cille atá colainn Naomh XavierAch is úr fós í a shacraimint ar an teanga.
Is urramach an radharc ón Séipéal ar an gCnoc
Ar an gcathair is ar an abhainn
A bhí tráth ar maos le fuil.
2
Laistiar de bhallaí an chlochair chlabhstraIs pléineáilte í aibíd na mban rialta bánghnúiseach.
Gnó ar dalladh ar siúl ag na stallaí faoin gcrann
Bainiain: maighdeana cré, hataí tuí,
Deochanna súilíneacha is coiscíní.
3
Faoina chasóg bhán muirníonn sagartPaidrín, ag machnamh ar Leabhar na nOlagón.
Faoi íomhá chré-umha de Gandhi fógraíonn mangaire
Turasóireachta ionad na n-eiriceach nár dhein aithrí
In am is a dódh le linn na Cúistiúnachta.
4
Titeann scáil Eaglais Naomh Peadar sa RóimhAr chruinneachán Eaglais Naomh Cajetan, líníocht
Linbh d’éirí na gréine an t-oisteansóir.
Faoi leaca uaighe greanta ar an urlár
Tagraíonn íola scriosta do chreideamh eile.
5
Na faichí pioctha néata á dtéamh ag an iarnóin.Buaileann cloig Ardeaglais Sé na Flaithis
Nó purgadóir; critheann altóra óir
Aithrígh na nglún brúite ag éirí,
Abhlanna caola ag cuimilt dá mbeola.
6
Easanálaíonn cillíní na manach móideannaGeanmnaíochta i bhfothrach Naomh Agaistín.
Gearrann lánúineacha óga na spéaclaí gréine
Fíor na croise orthu féin sula dtiomáintear ar ais iad
Go dtí svuít mhí na meala.
Postcards from Old Goa
1
St Xavier’s body is dust to dust butHis sacrament is still fresh on the tongue.
The Chapel on the Mount commands
A reverent view of a city and river
That once churned with blood.
2
Behind the walls of the cloistered conventNuns adopt plain habits; they never blush.
Under a banyan tree stalls do brisk
Business in clay madonnas, straw hats,
Fizzy drinks, and contraceptives.
3
The priest in a white cassock fondlesA rosary, lost in the Book of Lamentations.
Under Gandhi’s bronze image the tourist tout
Ordains the spot where heretics repented
Too late in the flames of the Inquisition.
4
The shadow of St Peter’s in Rome fallsOn the dome of St Cajetan, its monstrance
A child’s drawing of the rising sun.
Below headstones engraved on the floor
Razed idols speak of another faith.
5
Afternoons heat up the immaculate lawns.The bells of Sé Cathedral ring out
Heaven or purgatory; golden altars tremble
As penitents rise on bruised knees,
Wafer-thin hosts brushing their lips.
6
The cells of monks breathe out vowsOf chastity in the ruins of St Augustine’s.
Young couples in dark glasses cross
Themselves before they’re driven
Back to their honeymoon suites.
