a’ dèanamh air an t-Seapan
’is mise an t-amadan
a’ reic bùrn ri taobh na h-aibhne
is mise a’ ghlaoic a tha seasamh
ri taobh a’ bhodach-ròcais
cò ach dearg amadan
a shireadh an inntinn aige
air taobh thall an t-saoghail?
ach nach eil blas mì-bhlasta a’ bhùirn
air tighinn air a’ bheatha seo?
nach eil m’ inntinn fhein
na bodach-ròcais?
stiall ort, a phleuna bhuaireasaich,
tha bliadhnaichean ann
on a chunnaic an duine falamh seo
grian fhiachail ag eirigh
__
(English translation)
heading to Japan
i am the dimwit selling
water by the river
i am the featherbrained one
standing beside the scarecrow
who but a blockhead
seeks his mind
in a distant land?
although, hasn’t the useless tasteless taste
of water suffused this very life?
my mind itself is not
more than mere scarecrow
hasten onwards, turbulent plane,
it is years since this empty human
viewed a justifiable sun on the horizon
*
Na h-Eileanan an Iar mar Ghàrradh Zen
Na h-Eileanan an Iar mar Ghàrradh Zen (The Outer Hebrides as Zen Garden) is a verbal-visual poem. We have made it available in a PDF. Please click here to access.
The shape is that of the Outer Hebrides and the kanji means ‘Zen garden’. (The Hebrides remind the poet of a Zen garden).