Hi, I was wondering if anyone could translate this poem into Gaelic for me? it's kind of a St Patrick's Day present

Isle Of Green (The Calling)

At the twilight of the day
my heart drifts away
to an Isle Of Green that I've never seen
but it feels like home to me

I hear the drums rolling o'er the hills
and the pipes they call to me
a maiden fair with flaming hair
her voice carried on the wind

Through ancient stones I yearn to roam
and walk the enchanted way
and feel for me the history
of Kingdoms that have passed away

In a joyful pub at the end of day
we will share a pint or two
and we'll sing along to an Irish song
to which we all know the tune

The call is strong and I hear the song
from across the rolling waves
and it sings to me of an Isle Of Green
that I shall some day see

If we were to attempt that, it wouldn't rhyme or scan...it would have to be just a literal, prose translation.

Translating poetry requires that the translator also be a poet and, if possible, familiar with the milieu in which the poem is set (and also tends to require a lot of paraphrasing).

Someone may yet attempt it...I'm just giving you a heads up regarding the potential problems.

Redwolf

Ok thanks for replying!!

This is actually no small request. If the translation is a present for someone, consider paying to have it done--just like you would pay to give them a bouquet of flowers, a nice dinner, a bottle of whiskey, etc.

A chara, here's a rendition I came up with that has rhyming and rhythm, though not the same as the original. I speak with Munster dialect, so it probably works best in that dialect.


Oileán Glaise (An Ghairm)

I m’aonarán féinig faoi bhreacsholas úrlae
Imíonn chun fáin uaim mo chroí
Go cianoileán glaise nach bhfacas-sa riamh,
Ach ar bhaile le m’anamsa í.

Cloisim ceol druma thar dhromanna chugam
Is ceol ard na bpíob dom’ ghlaoch.
Céirseach dea-shnua, í caol is ceannrua,
A binnghlór chugam ar an ngaoth.

Is mian liom mo thaisteal trí fháinní liag d’aistear
is bealach draíochta sí a ghabháil;
is críonstair gach ríochta a cailleadh le cianta
a bhrath insan chléibh seo ag deamhsáil.

I dtábhairne lán gáire i ndeireadh lae báire,
Ólfaimid pionta nó dhó;
Is canfaimid in éineacht le hamhrán breá Gaelach
a mbeidh a fhonn againne gan stró.

Is tréan an ghairm is cloisim an t-amhrán
an fharraige fholtfhionn isteach
a chanann liom fé Oileán Glaise i gcéin
A fheicfead lá éigin, anseo amach.



Literal Translation:

I all alone in the twilight of a new day
My heart strays away from me
To a far-away island of green that I never saw before
But that is a home of my soul.

I hear drum-music over ridges to me
And the loud music of the pipes calling me.
A thin red-haired beauty of fair complexion
Her melodious voice toward me on the wind

I long for my travelling through stone rings on a journey
and to walk the magic way of the fair folk/fairy mounds
and to feel the old history of every kingdom that has been lost for ages
beating in this here chest .

In a pub full of laughter at the end of the day
We will drink a pint or two
And we will sing together along to a very Irish song
that we will know/have its tune easily

Strong is the call and i hear the song
coming over the white-crested sea (inland)
that sings to me about an island of greenness far away
that I will see some day, in the future (here out)

What a beautiful translation that is, a Embarien, and very nice of you. An jab!

_________________
I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

wow thank you! this is great! the literal translation is cool too!

Go hiontach! Tá file inár measc!

Redwolf