Scaradh (1944)
Pádraig Ó Broin, composed in Toronto, Ontario
Broken the tree, and the branches.
He took with him his memories,
And I am adrift alone
With no link at all to my forebears.
He went suddenly,
Secretly; no one watching
Beside his bed.
Too quiet the noble head,
And the intellect asleep forever.
I cannot but restate
That he took, in his dying,
My Father took our memories with him.
Briste an crann, ‘s na craobhacha.
Thóg seisean leis a chuimhneacha,
Is táimse le sruth im’ aonar
Gan cheangal ar bith le mo shinsear.
D’imigh sé leis go hobann,
Go huaigneach; gan fhaire le héinne
Cois a leaba.
Rí-chiúin an ceann uasal,
‘S an inchinn ina chodladh go bráth.
Ní thig liom ach d’athrá
Gur thóg, ina fháil bháis,
M’Athair ár gcuimhneacha leis.
Adapted from: Ó Broin, Pádraig. 19446. “Scaradh.” Pádraig Ó Broin (J. Patrick Byrne) Papers. Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. MS Coll 00247.
For citation, please use: Ó Broin, Pádraig. 1944. “Scaradh.” Ó Dubhghaill, Dónall. 2024. Na Gaeil san Áit Ró-Fhuar. Gaeltacht an Oileáin Úir: www.gaeilge.ca