Saturday, February 02, 2008

Brigid's Day

An Irish epigram, author unknown

Cáintear na fileadha
's ni hiad do bhionn cionntach;
Ni fachtar as na soighthighe
acht an Ián do bhios ionnta.

Men mock the poet for his want of wit,
Yet not the poet's is the fault of it;
Out of a little vessel you'll not gain
More than a little vessel can contain.

2 comments:

Barbara said...

Where did you find this poem? I'm glad the poet provided a translation, if that's what the second stanza is!

Kate said...

Yes.... it is a translation from the Gaelic. I have always been interested in Irish poets and found this on an Irish poetry site.