The Death Poem of Conor MacArt

[dedalus]

An Dán Bás Conchubhair Mac Airt

 

 

Tá mo chroí bánú.

I bhfuil cónaí lá fada agus leisciúil.

I mo óige a bhí mé ghaiscíoch,

I meán-aois a bhí mé comhairleoir,

I seanaoise mé díomá.

 

My heart is fading.

My days were long and lazy.

In my youth I was a warrior,

in middle age a counsellor,

in old age a disgrace.

 

--------------------------------

 

The Japanese warrior class (侍: samurai) had a tradition of writing death poems known as Jisei no ku: 辞世の句, often before committing ritual suicide to expiate some breach of honour. In Ireland, as usual, we do things differently. This is not a translation (well, obviously it has been translated) but a first attempt to write an original poem in Irish. I'm waving at you, somewhat forlornly, before a mountain of outraged pedantry falls down on me .... but not here, I hope.

Jisei no ku (Wikipedia): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_poem

Edited March 17, 2013 by Tinker

[tonyv]

Very inspiring, Brendan, your having written the poem first in Irish and then translated it. I like how it looks and would love to hear how it actually sounds. Please consider putting an audio copy of this in the audio forum.

 

Tony

[Benjamin]

There seems to be a humorous cynicism between these lines, perhaps it's just my assumption. Irish wit at work. Ben

[rosschandler]

very good.

[dedalus]

Tongue held firmly in cheek ... the old Irish failing!

[Lake]

This sounds very Chinese. I agree with "cynicism" in Ben's comment, or self-mocking. Very good, I think.

 

Thanks for the write.

 

Lake

[Tinker]

Ah, another voices the need to hear your poems....Brendan,

 

I write about the Death Poem or Jisei in the Japanese Forms Forum. I hope you don't mind if I add a link from the article to your poem. I think it is an appropriate example in English. Nice.

 

~~Tink