Chaoineadh Chalgaigh

Roimh theacht do Chríost
Sheas tú chomh díreach
Le dudhair
Agus thriail tú do neart
Le Caesar
Ach cad is cor d'ainm
Gan iomra
I nDoire do dhúchais
Gan chiall
I measc fuaim na nGall

Lament for Calgach

Before Christ was born
You stood straight
As a dark oak
And tried your strength
With Caesar
But what has become
Of your name
Unspoken in your birthplace
Unheard amid a foreign clamour

Mé féin is Mozart

Nuair a líonann
an ceol
isteach orm
mar a bheadh solas
on réalt is gile
tosaíonn glór neimhe
ag seoladh i mo chluasa

Mozart and Me

When the music
Pours into me
Like light from
The brightest star
I begin to know
What heaven sounds like.

^

Biography

Paul Laughlin lives in Derry. He has written poetry, short fiction and criticism. He is co-editor with Seamas Keenan of the anthology A Fistful of Pens.