Na Sráideanna Úd ar Scáileán
Tá na sráideanna ag glaoch –
na búlbhaird bhánaithe – nach mór
mar a bhíodh aimsir Nollag fadó
am ar fhan chuile dhuine sa bhaile
is a ndearna siopaí gaisce as a n-earraí
réidh le tús a chur leis na sladmhargaí
Nár bhreá liom an t-aer úr a análú
éisteacht le cantain na n-éan
siúl ar mo shuaimhneas
gan orm slí a ghearradh tríd an bplód
madra rua mar chomhluadar agam – seans
Táim cinnte de rud amháin, áfach:
a luaithe a leagaim boinn mo chos
ar na clocha duirlinge úd
go mbeidh an plód ann romham amach
go mbeidh seilbh ag múch ar an aer
go mbeidh cantain na n-éan imithe i léig
go mbeidh an madra rua tar éis filleadh
ar a bhrocais sna bruachbhailte
San idirlinn tá piorraí ag bachlú sa gharraí
an cleimeatas ar foluain ar na ráillí
is glas daingean ar an gcúlgheata
Those On-screen Streets
The streets are calling –
those near empty boulevards
of Christmas long ago
when everyone stayed home
and shop windows flaunted their wares –
ready for the sales to begin
How I long to inhale that fresh air
listen to birdsong
amble along
without having to cut through the crowd
a fox for companion – perhaps
One thing I am sure of, however:
as soon as my soles touch
those cobblestones
the crowd will be there before me
fumes will have invaded the air
birdsong will have died out
the fox will have returned
to his lair in the suburbs
Meanwhile pears bud in the garden
clematis wavers on the railings
and the back gate remains locked
……………
Celia de Fréine writes in many genres in Irish and English. http://www.celiadefreine.com
Go hiontach, Celia. Is maith liom go mór é.
Maire