In the words of an Duanaire, the following is the first section of a hitherto unpublished song. The much
inferior second section, the young man's reply, is omitted here.
"Táim i ngra le cailín deas."
"I'm in love with a pretty girl."
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á thagann tú choiche ná tar ach san oiche,
is siúl go réidh is ná scanraigh mé
gheobhaidh tú an eochair faoi shá shair an dorais,
is mé liom féin 's ná scanraigh mé If you come at all come only at night
and walk quietly -- don't frighten me.
You'll find the key under the doorstep
and me by myself -- don't frighten me.
Níl pota sa mbealach níl stól ná canna
There's no pot in the way no stool or can ná súgán féir, ná ní faoin gréin
or rope of straw -- nothing at all. tá an madra chomh socair nach labharfaidh sé focal
The dog is quiet and won't say a word ní náir dó é, 's maith mhúin míse é.
-- it's no shame to him: I've trained him well.
Tá mo mhaimí 'na codladh 's mo dhaidí á bogadh,
My mammy's asleep and my daddy is coaxing 's ag pógadh a béil, 's ag pógadh a béil,
kissing her mouth and kissing her mouth. nach aoibhinn di-se 's nach trua leat míse,
Isn't she lucky! Have pity on me 'mo luí liom féin ar chlúmh na n-éan. lying here by myself in the feather bed.
Courtesy of: An Duanaire, 1981
Translated by Thomas Kinsella
Background Music: gilemear.mid