Mistakes
In that other universe you won’t make the same mistakes; you will make new ones, and the seasons (the same that march onwards here) will bear away everything done by you and yours, along with the beauty of the flower in a vase in a silent room.
Dearmaid
Sa chruinne eile úd
ní dhéanfaidh tú
na dearmaid chéanna
dearmaid nua a dhéanfaidh tú
is béarfaidh na séasúir
(na séasúir chéanna
a shiúlann leo anseo)
béarfaidh siad leo a ndearna tú riamh
is a ndearna do chine
is scéimh an bhlátha
a mhair i vása
i gciúnas seomra
She sang
She sang that she had no dwelling place anywhere, but the fiddle told us to start dancing, and the yearning clarinet told us to lament, and the bird flew across the stage, seeking the green branches of the world, seeking shelter in this life.
Chan sí
Chan sí nach raibh fód a cónaithe
in áit ar bith
ach dúirt an fhidil linn
dul ag damhsa
is dúirt an chláirnéid thnúthánach linn
dul i mbun caointe
is an t-éan ag gluaiseacht
trasna an stáitse
ar lorg chraobhacha glasa an domhain
ar lorg dídine sa saol seo
Going homewards
Going homewards now, like a ghost in the glass of windows, passing doors that will never open to you, the nameless crowds in the streets, your home approaching you, retreating from you.
Ag gabháil abhaile
Ag gabháil abhaile anois
is tú i do scáil
i ngloine na bhfuinneog
ag dul thar dhoirse
nach n-osclóidh duitse choíche
na táinte gan ainm
sna sráideanna
an baile ag teacht i do choinne
is ag cúlú romhat go deo
Melbourne’s Colin Ryan is a short story writer and a poet who contributes regularly to Tinteán. The Museum of Literature Ireland says that ‘Colin Ryan is a unique writer based in Melbourne, who has chosen Irish as his literary language and gives it a unique Australian twist. He was raised in the south-east rural Australia, where his Irish ancestors first settle in the 1860s. settled but now lives in Melbourne.’ His published poetry collections are Corraí na Nathrach and Rogha. Ceo Bruithne and Teachtaireacht are his short story collections available from litriocht.com
Tinteán 