Slí Nua Chun Feitheamh le Duine
Thugas amach
don seansearbhónta
as a bheith mall mar is gnách leis.
Dom’ mhaicín mánla
thugas clabhta maith
as a bheith mioscaiseach.
Do m’iníon a bhí ag súgradh thugas dosaen ciarsúr
chun fáithim a chur orthu.
D’ordaíos don té is sine
níos mó bainne a ól.
Níos na héadaí salacha go léir.
Thugas sracfhéachaint trí roinnt irisí.
Dhearnálas roinnt balcaisí.
Dheineas cnaipí a fhuáil le baill éadaigh.
Ghlanas an meaisín is thugas ola dó.
Chuireas an clúdach ar ais air go cúramach.
Ná héadaí nach raibh ach leath-fhuaite
thógas amach iad is phacálas arís ar mhalairt slí iad.
Ghlanas na cupaird sa chistin
agus na prócaí spíosraí.
Agus fós
níl sé tagtha
abhaile ón oifig.
Shakunt Mathur
A New Way of Waiting
Scolded
the old servant
for his usual slowness.
For his mischief
gave a good slap
to my darling son.
To my daughter who'd been playing
gave a dozen hankies to hem.
Ordered
the oldest
to drink more milk.
Washed
all the dirty clothes.
Flipped through a few magazines.
Darned some torn clothes.
Sewed on some new buttons.
Cleaned the machine and oiled it.
Put the cover back on with care.
Took out the half-finished sewing
and repacked it in a different way.
Wiped the cupboards in the kitchen.
Cleaned the spice jars.
And still
he
hasn't come home from the office.