Cén fáth go bhfuil an tslat
Ina seasamh ag
tonnchrith,
Díreach agus dúr,
gan aon chlúdach,
Nocht os comhair
na gaoithe,
Os comhair an
tsaoil, faoin spéir,
Ar chúinne an chosáin sráide?
Ina timpeall, foirgnimh airde,
‘Sé ag iarraidh ar dhaoine breathnú,
Gan chúis, gan phléisiúir, gan tuiscint.
Dá mbeinn i m’innealtóir!
Dá mbeinn i mo shaineolaí!
Mura raibh na
roghanna
A rinne mé
mar a rinne,
Bheadh a fhios agam.
Mura mise
an duine céanna.
Tá dlíthe
ann agus eolas ann
A mhíneodh
an feiniméin fisiceach.
Ach
déanaimse ionadh de,
Slat chruach ar a raibh comhartha, tráth,
Anois ina
méadranóm néaltraithe sa ghaoth.
The Rod
By James Norton
Why is the rod
Standing up and vibrating,
Straight and hard, with no cover,
Naked before the wind,
Before the world, outdoors,
On a corner of the sidewalk?
Around it, high buildings,
And it's asking people to look,
Without a reason, without pleasure, without understanding.
If only I were an engineer!
If only I were an expert!
If I hadn't made the choices
That I made when I made them,
I would know.
If I weren't the same person.
There are laws and there is knowledge
Which would explain the physical phenomenon.
But I wonder at it,
A steel rod which had had a sign on it, once,
Now a crazy metronome in the wind.
Gach ceart ar cosnamh. © 2004 James Norton.