Gaol
Dónn sé go han-mhall, seasann crann ard
na foraoise i loigín an tsneachta
atá leáite ina thimpeall ag teas fada measartha
a bheatha agus a dhúil le bheith ina fhréamh
ina thamhan, ina ghéag, ina dhuilleog is eolas
a chur ar an gcré dhubh, solas gréine, méara na gaoithe, cantain éan.
Stoite atáimid, guagach, teofhuilteach, ar lasadh
sa bhladhm úd a fhágann dall sinn ar thine
ard bhráithriúil na beatha atá chomh bríomhar anois
is a bhí sa tsíológ dhá chéad bliain ó shin.
Kinship
Very slowly burning, the big forest tree
stands in the slight hollow of the snow
melted around it by the mild, long
heat of its being and its will to be
root, trunk, branch, leaf, and know
earth dark, sun light, wind touch, bird song.
Rootless and restless and warmblooded, we
blaze in the flare that blinds us to that slow,
tall, fraternal fire of life as strong
now as in the seedling two centuries ago.
