Lán an bhéil de mhaitheas
A MOUTHFUL OF GOODNESS
Ar dtús níor glacadh aon rud Gur tógadh lán an bhéil de mhaitheas Gur phúsc sé trí na piocháin Ag múnlú doimhneacht croí Gur tháinig míchompord ar an urchóid Is nar aithin sé a bhaile ionat.
At first, nothing was accepted Until a mouthful of goodness was taken And it oozed through the pores Moulding the depths of the heart Until it’s harm became uncomfortable And didn’t recognise its home within
Is sa lár níor scíth aon rud Cé gur déanadh ullmhú ar an ngreamú Gur tógadh lán an bhéil de mhaitheas Is thosaigh clampar beag sa gcroí istigh Ag baint cruthanna as d’anam Gur ghéill tú i do phian-sa Is tháinig ceistiú ar thairbhe do chrá
And in the middle nothing rested Yet prepared it for the sticking And a mouthful of goodness was taken And the heart began to quarrel Creating shapes of the soul Until you yielded in your pain And questioned the worth Of your suffering
Is ar deireadh, níor fhan aon rud Ach lán an bhéil de mhaitheas Ag siúl le gach aon taobh leat Ag baint cuaifeach as do choisméig Gur leag tú síos na clocha A chaith tú leis na comharsan Is gur shín tú chuig do dhaoine Lán a mbéal de mhaitheas.
In the end, nothing stayed But a mouthful of goodness Walking by each side of you Creating whirlwinds in each step Until you put down all those rocks That you threw at all your neighbours And you handed towards your people A mouthful of goodness
© JULIE BREATHNACH-BANWAIT 2020
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