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an t-oileán glé úd gurb é tusa é
tá sé fairsing sléibhtiúil
ceilteach agus oscailte
is nuair a bhogann néalta
trasna na spéire os do chionn
léirítear ailteanna is machairí
seangacht agus méithe in éineacht
agus scáth ar scáth ag leanúint a chéile
timpeall ar do cholainn bhán go léir
tráth gur shínis amach
ar an dtocht lomnocht
sa tseomra dorcha
os cionn na mara
bhí caille ar d’éadan
a d’fholaigh do cheannaithe
do shúile fiú
nuair ba léir iad faoin bhfial
bhí mar a bheadh scim orthu
do bheanna mórtasacha
ag éirí is ag ísliú
gile fhíochmhar do chnis
ina hoileán i lár an dorchadais
shnámhas go dtí tú
m’fheargacht go léir ar crith
le tnúth agus le heagla
do lámha anall tharam is mé ag dul isteach ort
mar oilithreach chun do theampaill thánag
is mé ag foghlaim gaisce
san áit inar thit céad fear romham
níos fearr faoi chéad ná mé
níor chuala ach ceol na bpíob
nuair a léimeas thar do dhroichead
is nuair a réabas do bhaile poirt
ceol síoraí na bpíob
ag leagan urláir faoi mo chroí
an t-oileán glé gurb é tusa é
a chuir sciatháin le mo mhian
do bheanna mórtasacha ag éirí is ag ísliú
i gcónaí faoi gach gníomh a chuirim i gcrích
is cuma anois nó cuid díom tú
cé ná faca do shúile riamh
bhraitheasa do chroí ag bualadh
i siansán uafar na bpíob mór
is i nglórtha na ngaiscíoch a thit romham
faoi bhuillí fiochmhara ghile do chnis
sa tseomra dorcha os cionn na mara
oileán fairsing oscailte tú
a iompraím thart liom
im chroí ceilteach |
 
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you are a bright island
hilly and wide
reserved and open
as clouds drift over you
across the sky
plains and ravines are revealed
swelling and slender together
as shadow follows shadow
around about your white body
when you stretched
naked on the bed
in the dark chamber
above the sea
the veil on your face
concealing your features
even your eyes
when seen
seemed hazed
your proud peaks
rising and falling
the fierce splendour of your skin
an island in the midst of dark
toward you I swam
my manliness trembling
with longing and fear
your arms around me as I reached your land
a pilgrim come to your temple
to learn warrior feats
where a hundred fell before me
a hundred times bolder than me
all I heard was the pipes wailing
as I vaulted your bridge
and breached your haven
the pipes eternal chant
grounding my heart
you are a bright island
settings wings to my desire
your proud peaks rise and fall
beneath my every feat one and all
almost a part of me
though I never saw your eyes
I felt your heart beat
in the fearful whine of the war-pipes
in the calls of the warriors who fell before me
beneath the fierce bright strokes of your skin
in the dark chamber above the ocean
a wide open island
borne
in my reserved heart
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