Théis na Réabhlóide

cuireadh fiacha fola

ar gach mac tíre

Gan le déanamh

ach a cheann a stolladh

théis na Réabhlóide

Fiche nó níos daoire

ar choileán tollta

gach mac tíre

ar ainmhí fásta

daichead punt bronnta

théis na Réabhlóide

Caoga an luach

má bhí sí ag súil

gach iníon tíre

Céad caoga an duais

ar mharfóir daonna

i gcló mhic tíre

théis na Réabhlóide.

Sealgaire nó creach na héinne

tar éis na Réabhlóide.

After the guillotines

(1789)

After the guillotines

A blood debt was settled

On each wolf’s head

The one thing needful

was grey necks to sever

after the guillotines

Twenty or more

for the run-through pup

of any wild cur

Creatures full grown

fetched forty a head

after the guillotines

Fifty marks were marked

for the terrified prize

of a still-breathing she-wolf

Fifty and a hundred

were laid for each man-killer

for each fierce head

after the guillotines.

So choose to hunt or be hooded bird’s meat

after the guillotines.

(Translation: Billy Ramsell )

Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh's début collection, Péacadh, was published by Coiscéim in 2008.