Fornocht do chonac thú
le Pádraig Mac Piarais


Fornocht do chonac thú,
a áille na háille,
is do dhallas mo shúil
ar eagla go stánfainn.

Do chualas do cheol,
a bhinne na binne,
is do dhúnas mo chluas
ar eagla go gclisfinn.

Do bhlaiseas do bhéal
a mhilse na milse,
is do chruas mo chroí
ar eagla mo mhillte.

Do dhallas mo shúil,
is mo chluas do dhúnas;
do chruas mo chroí,
is mo mhian do mhúchas.

Do thugas mo chúl
ar an aisling do chumas,
‘s ar an ród so romham
m’aghaidh do thugas.

Do thugas mo ghnúis
ar an ród so romham,
ar an ngníomh do-chim,
‘s ar an mbás do gheobhad.

Pádraig Mac Piarais
I gazed on your form
and the beauty therein
I averted my eyes
for fear I would sin

I heard your sweet tones
and the music you made
but I shut out the sound
of the passing parade

I tasted your lips
with their sweetness divine
but I hardened my heart
not to drink that sweet wine

I shuttered my eyes
I blocked up my ears
I hardened my heart
I confronted my fears

I then turned away
from my earlier life
I took to the road
and a future of strife

I took to the road
I knew where it led
I would wake in the morning
among Ireland's dead

Translation: Pól Ó Duibhir
Naked I saw thee,
O beauty of beauty,
And I blinded my eyes
For fear I should fail.

I heard thy music,
O melody of melody,
And I closed my ears
For fear I should falter.

I tasted thy mouth,
O sweetness of sweetness,
And I hardened my heart
For fear of my slaying.

I blinded my eyes,
And I closed my ears,
I hardened my heart
And I smothered my desire.

I turned my back
On the vision I had shaped,
And to this road before me
I turned my face.

I have turned my face
To this road before me,
To the deed that I see
And the death I shall die.

Translation: Patrick Pearse



Back to Biographical Stuff