FOIGHID

Tuigim
nach dtig liom
blátha na Bealtaine a bhailiú
i ngort an gheimhridh
ná sméara a bhlaiseadh
ins na Faoillí.

Tuigim
go mbíonn a uain
ag an uile ní.

Fillfidh na fáinleoga
fillfidh an chuach
beidh an traonach le cloisint arís
ó chuibhreann ghlas
cois abhann.

Cad chuige mar sin
nach dtuigim
an chiall atá le foighid?

An Suibhneach Meann

Patience

I know
I cannot gather
May flowers
in a wintry field
or savour blackberries
in the month of February.

I know
there is a season
to all things.

Swallows will return
so, too, the cuckoo
the corncrake will be heard again
in the green field
by the river.

Why is it then
I know nothing at all
of patience?

Translated from the Irish by Gabriel Rosenstock

Pádraig Mac Suibhne (An Suibhneach Meann) was a poet and actor from the Baile Bhuirne Gaeltacht. It is said that he received the gift of poetry from his grandmother, Máirín, who had no English.

PATIENCE

A ken
a cannae gaither
Mey flooers
in a wuntry perk
or pree blackberries
i the month o Februar.

A ken
thayr's a saison
fir awthings.

Swallaes'll retour
aye, an the gowk an aw;
we'll hearken aince mair tae the craik
i the emerant perk
bi the watter.

Whit wey, then
is't a ken naethin ava
o patience?

John McDonald