Monagamas

i nGuagán Barra.

Bhí pósadh sa séipéal ar an oileán,
thug an cloch foscadh don chúpla ó cháitheadh an locha,
rinne siad a miongháire do na ceamaraí
ach ní raibh aon bhláth ar an ródaidéandran.

Dhruid na healaí i ngar dúinn nuair a bhuaileamar na lámha,
shíleamar an rud céanna a athdhéanamh níos déanaí
ach thuig siad nach raibh ann ach fuaim gan cur leis,
shín siad a muiníl agus chas siad tóin orainn
agus dhoirt siad a gcinn faoin uisce
saor ó chrá na bhfuaimeanna gan bhrí.

Is mar sin a ghreamaíonn siad le chéile
sásta leis an leathéan céanna
ag triall i dtreo na síoraíochta,
mar tá an t-uisce acu chun a smaointe a choimeád glan
agus cosa do-fheicthe ag tiomáint a gcroíthe.

MONOGAMY

At Gougane Barra

There was a wedding at the oratory of Saint Finbar,

church stone shielded the couple from the lake’s spray

as they smiled their eternity into camera lenses,

there were no blooms on the rhododendron.

At the lake’s edge the swans did not draw near when we clapped,

they stretched their necks and turned

on their timeless journey

with water to keep their heads clear

and unseen feet propelling constantly to drive their hearts.

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