Interesting that the linked video translates "mo dhroim le balla," as "my back to the wall." English would think of those as contradictory translations. I'm going down a rabbit hole and it seems like "droim" is most often "back" but can also mean "face". (My two years of Irish in grad school were long enough ago and scanty enough that I'm not able to fully appreciate how it could be both. In any case, the translator's choice here radically changes the image of the poet's stance.
Raftery came up in something else I was reading this week and I cannot remember anymore where or what it was. But I've realized I've never read more than a poem here and there and thinking maybe I should rectify that and read more Raftery.
What a beautiful song! Sad and hopeful and full of humor and dignity simultaneously. The Celtic literary tradition embraces mystery and the numinous so matter-of-factly, it makes my heart ache. Thanks for sharing this!
Interesting that the linked video translates "mo dhroim le balla," as "my back to the wall." English would think of those as contradictory translations. I'm going down a rabbit hole and it seems like "droim" is most often "back" but can also mean "face". (My two years of Irish in grad school were long enough ago and scanty enough that I'm not able to fully appreciate how it could be both. In any case, the translator's choice here radically changes the image of the poet's stance.
Raftery came up in something else I was reading this week and I cannot remember anymore where or what it was. But I've realized I've never read more than a poem here and there and thinking maybe I should rectify that and read more Raftery.
Hannah Arendt's quote is priceless, thank you.
What a beautiful song! Sad and hopeful and full of humor and dignity simultaneously. The Celtic literary tradition embraces mystery and the numinous so matter-of-factly, it makes my heart ache. Thanks for sharing this!