Mise Eire

Talk to me of bogs
of blankets on the land
talk to me of myths
you have at your command.
Tell me of Cu Chulainn
the hero hound of Ulster
The battles of the Tain Bo
and the warriors of Munster.
The progress of the firbolgs
the De danaans on the hill
remind me of our legends
of folklore through the quill.
Talk to me of forests
of flora and fauna there
talk to me of mountains
in Tyrone and in Kildare.
Tell me now of future
of equality in the land
speak to me of serenity
so the tribes can understand.

(First published with Argotist Online)

Native Speakers

I envy your tongue
how the silvery words evoke
the layered past of home.
snippets recalled from early
youth slip out in dreams
during the day-light hours,
in particles of conversations
on radio Telefis Eireann 
wheezing from Da's old wireless
that needed time to heat 
for clearer contact.
I can't translate without
a book to help me
yet I don't want to
the words
of your poems
speak for themselves.

(First published with Argotist Online)