GORT NA GCNÁMH | THE FIELD OF BONES |
Cathal Ó Searcaigh | tr. Denise Blake |
do Art Hughes 1. 'Tá sé ag gabháil ó sholas, a ghirsigh,' a dúirt sé go gairgeach ..........ar ball amhail is dá bhféadfainnse cúl a choinneáil ar dhlúthú ..........na hoíche. A Dhia na Glóire, dá dtuigfeadh an dúlamán doicheallach ..........sin thall leath dá ndeir sé! Ach bhí m'athair ariamh dúranta agus dall an beathach brúidiúil! Istigh anseo ionamsa, i m'anam is ..........i m'aigne tá sé ag gabháil ó sholas le mo chuimhne. Seo anois mé ag leanstan lorg a spáide de ..........choiscéim mhall smug le mo shoc, scifleogach, ag piocadh preátai faoi lom ..........na gaoithe agus eisean ag briseadh chraiceann tiubh na hithreach ar nós ..........na réidhe ag brú chun tosaigh go tíoránta, ag foscladh roimhe agus ..........ina dhiaidh. Amuigh anseo ar an lom, gan foscadh ón ghaoth nó díon ón ..........fhearthainn, ag giollaíocht an ghoirt seo, ag déanamh neamairt ionam ..........féin lena linn. Is iomaí lá de mo chuid allais ag an áit ainniseach seo, á leasú ..........is á saibhriú is iomaí deoir ghoirt atá caointe anseo agam ach cha dig ..........a thart a shásamh. |
for Art Hughes 1. Girl, the light is fading, he barks ..........out of nowhere, as if I had the slightest control ..........over the night. O Christ, if that churlish fool ..........only understood half of what he said. My father, the thran ..........brutal bastard. I'm trailing the track of his spade ..........with heavy steps; a snivelling tattered mess. Hoking out spuds ..........in a savage wind. Was I always like this? My memories ..........are tainted, putrid. He breaks the soil's thick skin ..........with ease, presses on stubbornly. Digging ahead of him, ..........all turned behind him. Such an unforgiving place, without shelter ..........from gales or storms. I sacrificed myself to this earth; ..........my sweat softened the clay, the tears made it fertile ..........and still it demands more. |
Copyright © Cathal Ó Searcaigh 2005; trans. copyright © Denise Blake 2005 - publ. Arc Publications
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