2019-01-09

Tanka ag freagairt don Impriseanaí Meiriceánach Childe Hassam

tá mo ghrása i Sasana
liath atá mo chroí
chomh fuar liath leis an Tamais
       ní scalann an ghrian
       tríd an smúit

my love is in England
my heart is grey
cold and grey as the Thames
        sunshine cannot pierce
       the gloom

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=27038

solas an lae, nach luachmhar é
nuair a sheasann tú ann
do ghilese tríd
       is den ábhar céanna sibh
       tusa is an solas

daylight, how precious it is
when you stand there
your radiance mingling with it
      the same substance
       you and the light

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=206500



bímis mar scáthán
ar thost a chéile
d’fhonn teacht ar an bhféin comónta
gan tús
                     scáil na gcrann i linn

let us mirror
each other’s silence
and find the common self
that is beginningless
              trees reflected in a pond

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=166669


is fuirist fís a chailliúint
scairteann an t-anam ar son comhartha
gabhann an scairt sin foirm is cruth
is féach
              ealaí ag eitilt thar dhumhcha


a vision is easily lost
the soul cries out for a sign
a cry takes form and shape
and look
              swans flying over dunes

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=75938


cad a chloiseann tú
cantain éan os cionn tráchta
an gcloiseann tú a gcloisimse
       trup na sál
       ag teacht faoim’ dhéin

what is it you hear
birdsong above traffic
do you hear what I hear
              clip-clop of heels
              you draw near


http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=33182


tógaimis carr
suas síos Ascaill a Cúig
go dtí go stopfaidh an bháisteach
       go dtí go stopfaidh mo chroí
       a ansacht

let’s take a cab
up and down Fifth Avenue
until the rain stops
       until my heart stops
       beloved

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=19902


tá sí ag feitheamh linn
ag tnúth linn
is sinne ag tnúth léithise
       mistéir a chéile
       i mistéir an róis


it awaits us
it longs for us
as we have longed for it
       the mystery of each other
       in the mystery of the rose


http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=32319

what’s new
our love is new
as it was yesterday
and today and always
       that’s what’s new

scél lem dúib
is úr dár ngrá
mar a bhí inné
mar atá inniu is go brách
       é mo scél

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=36078


cuireann an fómhar
ag machnamh sinn go lom
is clos ó chnocaibh i gcéin
       clascairt na mbeann
       ón am fadó

autumn causes us
to look at ourselves bare
on distant hills we hear
       a clash of antlers
       from long ago

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=32071


chonac Manhattan i dtaibhreamh
is é ag taibhreamh faoi féin
chuala do ghuth ansin
              dúisigh, dúisigh
              tabhair dom póg


I saw Manhattan in a dream
dreaming of itself
then I heard your voice
                     wake up, wake up
                     kiss me


http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=96384


nuair nach mbraithim
taobh liom thú
mothaím thú
       i dtic uaireadóra
       leathghealach sa spéir

when you’re not near
everything reminds me
of your absence
       tick of a watch
       half-moon in the sky


http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=25426


gabh chugat féin pé cruth
pé ainm is mian leat
inniu is tú Pómóna
       caomhnóir cnónna
       is torthaí

take whatever shape
whatever name you wish
today you are Pomona
       guardian of nuts
       and fruits


http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=33393


the Gaels saw them
as nothing more
than seal snot
       look what’s coming ashore
       jellyfish


tá’s agat féin
cad a shíl
na Gaeil díobh
       féach cad tá ag teacht i dtír
       smugairlí róin

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=27088

bíonn laethanta ann
is bíonn bratacha balbh
faic le rá acu
       leoithne phatuar
       ag dul i bhfolach

there are days
when flags are dumb
nothing to say
              an indifferent breeze
              goes into hiding


http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=27079


cad a chanann sé
óiréal an úlloird
cúpla nóta cráite
       agus an tost, uch
       nach géar é


what does it sing
the orchard oriole
a few piercing notes
       and silence, ah
       how sharp

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=24955


thaibhríos gur gréasaí a bhí ionam
tháinig tú led’ bhróga
tar ar ais i gceann míosa, ar mé
              choinníos iad
              ar feadh bliana

I dreamt I was a cobbler
you brought me your shoes
call for them in a month, I said
              I kept them
              for a whole year

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=26948


cosc ar mhná?
cá bhfuilim?
McSorley’s, a dhuine uasail
cén bhliain í seo?
tá do dhóthain ólta agat, a dhuine uasail


you don’t’ serve ladies?
where am I?
McSorley’s, Sir
       what year is this?
       I think you’ve had enough, Sir

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=98395


thaibhríos gur de sholas na gealaí
is ea thú go léir
nach den saol seo thú
       an éireoidh an ré
       chun tú a bhreith léi

I dreamt you were made
entirely of moonlight
you were not of this earth
       will the moon rise
       and take you with it

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=25035


murab ionann is na gondalóirí
is a gcuid seanamhrán
canfadsa duitse
       rud éigin úrnua ar fad
       in aghaidh na huaire


unlike gondoliers
with a litany of old songs
I will sing for you
       something entirely new
       by the hour

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=27036


thaibhríos gur neach mara a bhí ionat
nuair is dúghorm a bhíonn an mhuir
glaonn sí ort
       iompaíonn tú do dhroim
       ar an domhan

I dreamt you were a sea creature
on days when the sea is dark blue
it calls out to you
       you turn your back
       on our world

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=24253


thaibhríos gur scríobhas
dán foirfe duitse
dhúisíos is ní raibh teacht
ach ar an líne dheireanach
       duitse bíodh líológa ann go brách


in a dream I had written
the perfect poem for you
I awoke and all I could find
was the last line
       for you may there always be lilacs


https://www.wikiart.org/en/childe-hassam/under-the-lilacs


scairtfidh mé d’ainm
ó na díonta
beidh fhios ag cách é
    tuigfidh an éanlaith conas é a rá
    ina dteanga féinig

I shall shout your name
from rooftops
all shall know it
    birds will sing it
    each in its own tongue

https://www.wikiart.org/en/childe-hassam/rooftops-pont-aven     


d’eitil dán óm’ lámh
lorgaíos gach áit é
dán ceiliúrtha ár ngrá
       glantóir sráide a tháinig air
       tá sé fós á léamh

a poem flew from my hand
I searched for it high and low
it spoke of our love
       a streetcleaner found it
       he’s read it a hundred times

http://the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=26896

   an mbeadh grá agat dom, ar mé
   dá mbeinnse im’ Guy Fawkes
   grá! arsa tusa liom,
   níos buaine ná riamh
       phléasc mo chroí


would you still love me, I asked
if I were Guy Fawkes
I would love you, you said
more than ever
       my heart exploded


https://www.wikiart.org/en/childe-hassam/houses-of-parliament-early-evening


sheolas giolla chugat
lem’ chuid dánta go léir
coinnigh súil amach dó
       aithneoidh tú é
       ar a neamhshaoltacht

I’ve dispatched a messenger boy
with all my poems for you
keep a sharp eye out
       you will know him
       by his air of otherworldliness

https://www.wikiart.org/en/childe-hassam/messenger-boy