Disinherited (1936)

Pádraig Ó Broin, composed in Toronto, Ontario

I stand before the Book of Ballymote,

The Book of Leinster, the Leabhar Breac, and last

The oldest, Leabhar na hUidhre – tomes that hold

My people’s history in a thousand ranns:

I cannot read a word.

I do not know the tongue my fathers spoke,

I cannot sing the songs my fathers sang,

I cannot read the books my fathers wrote;

Treasure on treasure in my eager hands:

I cannot read a word.

The tables of my race are here: old lore

And tale; poems our bards were proud to chant

To chiefs ... how dare I name me Irish poet?

Here is my heritage, and here I stand:

I cannot read a word.

Adapted from: Ó Broin, Pádraig. 1936. “Disinherited.” Pádraig Ó Broin (J. Patrick Byrne) Papers. Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. MS Coll 00247. This poem was first published in Writer’s Studio, 1936.

For citation, please use: Ó Broin, Pádraig. 1943. “An Chéad Dán.” Ó Dubhghaill, Dónall. 2024. Na Gaeil san Áit Ró-Fhuar. Gaeltacht an Oileáin Úir: www.gaeilge.ca