Na Blátha Craige

Na Blátha Craige by Liam Ó Flaithearta, aka Liam O’Flaherty

Hear the text read in Irish.

in Irish

A dúirt mé leis na blátha:
“Nach suarach an áit a fuair sibh
le bheith ag déanamh aeir
Teannta suas anseo le bruach na haille,
Gan fúibh ach an chloch ghlas
Agus salachar na n-éan,
áit bhradach, lán le ceo
Agus farraige cháite,
Ní scairteann grian anseo
Ó Luan go Satharn
Le gliondar a chur oraibh”
A dúirt na blatha craige:
“Is cuma linn, a stór,
Táimid faoi dhraíocht
ag ceol na farraige.”

The Rock Flowers in English

And I said to the flowers:
“isn’t it a pitiful place ye ended up
to be having fun
and ye trapped on the side of a cliff
nothing below but grey rock
and the filth of the birds,
a dirty, foggy place,
of spraying sea.
The sun doesn’t shine here
From Monday to Saturday
to gladden your hearts”
And they said:
“We don’t care, dear,
We are entranced
by the music of the sea.”

English Interpretation Hilary Mhic Suibhne