1
píosa eile coiréil
caite i dtír:
bhog sé – portán sligreach
another piece of coral
washed up on the beach:
it moves – hermit crab
2
spéir gan teimheal –
ar aghaidh leis arís
ag máirseáil, portán sligreach
cloudless sky –
off again on his marches
hermit crab
3
tost … airgeadaíonn an ghealach
an gaineamh faoina luíonn
na huibheacha turtar
silence … the moon silvers
the sand that hides
turtle eggs
4
iompaíonn a lí
ar an ré chródhearg
teitheann na réaltaí
a blood-red moon
changes colour
putting all the stars to flight
5
cruth an choiréil seo
cruth réaltbhuíne
i gcéin
the shape of this coral
shape of a distant
galaxy
6
oileáin á nochtadh
is ag leá
an mar seo a cruthaíodh an domhan?
islands coming
and going
is this how the world was made?
7
ní gá iarraidh orthu –
seolann na crainn phailme
bríos chugainn
cooling breeze
from palm trees –
without asking
8
an féileacán fiú
glacann scíth
san ámóg
even the butterfly
takes a rest
in the hammock
9
taoi foirfe, i ngach slí,
a mhuiscít; mar sin féin
fan amach uaim
you are perfect in every way
mosquito; nonetheless
buzz off
10
spléachadh ar thurtar
a shúile
is a bhfuil feicthe acu
glimpse of a turtle
his eyes
and what they have seen
11
lorg bídeach chosa an éin
ag díriú de shíor
ar ghaineamh gan chríoch
faint imprint of a bird’s feet
pointing pointing
towards infinite sands
12
isteach i bpoll sa ghaineamh
rud a bhí róthapaidh
le hainmniú
into a hole in the sand
something too quick
to be named
13
níl faic ar na gaobhair
ach brostaíonn an chearc a hál
an cosán anonn
nothing in sight
yet the hen bustles her clutch
across the path
14
féar mara
itheann na turtair é
seachas sin, n’fheadar
sea grass
turtles eat it
apart from that, who knows
15
linnte geala
domhainchiúnais
a réaltaí, na himíg’!
bright pools
of deep silence –
no, stars, don’t go!
16
nach toilltach!
ar luas an tsolais, nach mór,
scairt an choiligh
how penetrating!
almost at the speed of light
cock crow
17
an lá á ghlaoch
chun beochta acu
coiligh nach bhfeictear
calling the day
to life –
invisible cockerels
18
domhan fo thoinn
cruinniú gearr
leis an mballach Napoléon
underwave world
short meeting
with the Napoleon wrasse
19
guth dearg an choiligh
dathaíonn spéir
na maidine
a cock’s red voice
painting
the morning sky
20
coiréal inchinne cnapánaí
gealas na réaltaí-
gan smaointe
knobby brain coral
starglow –
no thoughts
21
coiligh ag freagairt dá chéile
eatarthu leátar
an ré
cocks echoing one another
between them they dissolve
the moon
22
cos léi amuigh –
tá an chuileog rómhór
do bhéal an gheiceo
one leg hangs out –
the fly is too big
for the gecko’s mouth
23
anáil chiúnaithe
na cruinne: is ansin
scairt an choiligh
the stilled breath
of the universe: then
cockcrow
24
éisc ar crochadh
faoin ngrian –
muir gan mhonabhar
fish hung out
to dry
murmurless sea
25
ina gceann is ina gceann
ciúnaíonn tonnta
roimh réaltaí
one by one
waves become placid
for the stars
26
scáil an turtair
nó féar mara
b’fhéidir
turtle shadow
or sea grass
maybe
27
línte reatha –
an t-iasc séabrach
ag scríobh ar uisce
fleeting lines –
the zebra fish
writing on water
28
hurlamaboc
francach
in airde sa chrann cnó cócó
hullabaloo
a rat
aloft in the coconut tree