Seasamh na Mná Galánta
Tar éis tamaill de chomhrá le bean bhreá
atá ag moladh mo chuidse filíochta
ag seoladh irise, deirim léi
go scríobhaim i nGaeilge chomh maith
Feicim scamaill ina súile
agus is cuma faoina freagra cáiréiseach,
cloisim a tuairim go glé, dar léi
go bhfuil mé os cionn a leithéid
Níos déanaí
nuair a shánn a fear céile a lámh thais i mo bhos
is ligeann uaidh gnúsacht mar bheannacht
déanaim lán mo shúl a bhaint as
agus cuimhním gur minic don ghrá a bheith dall
The Party Line
I’m hobnobbing at a magazine launch
Hitting it off with an intellectual glamazon
Who calls my performance sensational
And asks about my name
Yes I also write in Irish, I explain
Confusion clouds her eyes
And even her carefully worded reply
Does not hide her opinion:
That the language is below my station
Later when her husband grunts hello
And crams a sweaty palm in mine
I take him in, head to toe
And I’m reminded of how often love is blind
Ciara Ní É
First published in Aneas (2020)