I am Jonah son of Amittai
I hear voices
voices from the deep
2
laistigh díom is lasmuigh
atá na guthanna seo
aithním iad is ní aithním
these voices are within
and without
familiar and strange
3
guthanna uisciúla ag glaoch orm
teangacha guairneáin
istigh ionam – beo!
watery voices calling to me
swirling tongues
alive – inside me
4
tostanna
nárbh eol dom cheana
ag leathnú amach go fíor na spéire i gcéin
silences
like I’ve never known before
extending to the far horizon
5
de chine eile mé . . .
dá réir sin
caithfear amach mé
of another race am I . . .
and therefore
I shall be cast out
6
cé hé an Tiarna
a chruthaigh na farraigí
agus an talamh tirim
who is the Lord
who made the seas
and dry land
7
guth faoileáin
ag gearradh tríom –
scréach bhreithe mo mháthar
the voice of a seagull
rips through me –
my mother’s birth cry
8
mise mise mise
faoi ndeara an stoirm mhór seo
mise amháin
it is I I I
I am the cause of this great storm
I alone
9
mise amháin a shuaimhneodh í
trí thumadh go domhain
i gcroí an dorchadais
only I can quieten it
by diving deep
into the heart of darkness
10
táim ag dul i laige
le giorra anála –
leanfad orm ag canadh
I grow weak
short of breath –
must go on singing
11
an dorchadas seo
cad é féin
an é m’athair é?
this darkness
what is it
is it my father?
12
an mise an dorchadas seo leis
an dorcha atáim
cá bhfuil colmán geal m’ainme
am I this darkness too
am I dark
where is the bright dove of my name
13
cad faoi ndeara don mhíol mór seo
trua a ghlacadh dom
is mé a shlogadh
why does this whale
take pity on me
and swallow me
14
an bolg seo an míol mór seo
cad . . . cé thú féin
an tú mo mháthair
this belly this whale
what… who are you
are you my mother
15
a mháithrín
mise atá ann – Ióna –
do choilmín
little mother
it is I – Jonah –
your little dove
16
an eitleoidh mé dhuit
a mháithrín dhil
an eitleoidh mé uait
shall I fly for you
dearest little mother
shall I fly away
17
féach, a mháithrín
táim ag eitilt
do mhíle súil ag breathnú orm
look, mother
I am flying
your thousand eyes watching me
18
tiarna na smugairlí róin
cad is ainm dó
a mháithrín, an eol duit
the lord of jellyfishes
what is his name
mother do you know it
19
an cuimhin leat, a mháithrín
mé ag snámh ionat
mo smig os cionn an aigéin chosmaigh
do you remember, mother
I swam in you
my chin above the cosmic ocean
20
cá bhfuilir anois
i measc na réalt
an léir duit mé led’ mhíle súil
where are you now
among stars
can you see me with a thousand eyes
21
cloisim thú
im’ bhuille croí féinig:
a Ióna a cholmáin, ar sé
I hear you
in my own heartbeat:
Jonah little dove, it says
22
fiú má éagann an ghrian
m’ainm á rá aige
m’ainm á rá
even though the sun may die
it says my name
says my name
23
Is mé Ióna mac Aimití
cloisim guthanna
guthanna ón duibheagán
I am Jonah son of Amittai
I hear voices
voices from the deep
