Commonwealth
How odd of my wife
I thought at the time
to pluck bay leaves
to season her stews
from a tree that shades
the grave of a girl
in Kilclispeen.
Mary Dempsey
knew seventeen springs
before they laid her
into the earth,
before the bay tree
put down roots
before my mother
and father knew
fruit of the tree
of life.
Sitting at table
with wife and child
I relish the dish
and acknowledge the guest
who is part of the feast –
you’re welcome, Mary,
into my house
and you’re more than welcome
into my mouth
for this is the way
the world goes round
from the first kiss
to the baby’s milk,
from the first word
to the tongue’s last sound –
bread of communion
we taste in the mouth
is broken in commonwealth
under the ground.
as: Oven Lane
Foilsitheoir: The Gallery Press, Oldcastle
Comhlathas
B'ait liom ag an am
go bpiocfadh mo bhean chéile
duilleoga labhrais
chun stobhach a bhlaistiú
duilleoga atá os cionn
uaigh cailín
i gCill Chlispín.
Gan cur amach ag Máire Ní Dhíomsaigh
ach ar sheacht n-earrach déag
sular cuireadh
i gcré í,
sular fhréamhaigh
an crann labhrais
sular bhlais
mo mháthair
is m'athair
de thoradh chrann na beatha.
I mo shuí dhom ag an mbord
lem' chéile is leis an leanbh
bainim sult as an mias
agus beannaím don aoi
atá páirteach sa séire -fáilte romhat isteach sa tigh,
a Mháire,
agus fáilte is fiche
isteach im' bhéalsa
mar is mar sin
a chasann an domhan
ón gcéad phóg
go bainne an naíonáin,
ón gcéad fhocal
go dtí an siolla deiridh -
arán na comaoineach
a bhlaistear ar an teanga
bristear sa chomhlathas
faoi thalamh é.
(Traschruthaithe ag Gabriel Rosenstock)