A Sleepy Song
[Grania Used to Be Singing this over Diarmuid the Time They Were Wandering and Hiding from Finn]
Sleep a little, a little little, for there is nothing at all to fear,
Diarmuid grandson of Duibhne; sleep here soundly, Diarmuid to whom
I have given my love. It is I will keep watch for you, grandchild of
shapely Duibhne; sleep a little, a blessing on you, beside the well
of the strong field; my lamb from above the lake, from the banks of
the strong streams.
Let your sleep be like the sleep in the North of fair comely Fionnchadh
of Ess Ruadh, the time he took Slaine with bravery as we think, in
spite of Failbhe of the Hard Head.
Let your sleep be like the sleep in the West of Áine daughter of
Galian, the time she went on a journey in the night with Dubhthach
from Dorinis, by the light of torches.
Let your sleep be like the sleep in the East of Deaghadh the proud,
the brave fighter, the time he took Coincheann, daughter of Binn, in
spite of fierce Decheall of Duibhreann.
O heart of the valour of the world to the west of Greece, my heart
will go near to breaking if I do not see you every day. The parting
of us two will be the parting of two children of the one house; it
will be the parting of life from the body, Diarmuid.
The Kiltartan Poetry Book; prose translations from the Irish by Lady Augusta Gregory, 1852-1932
2 years ago • 0 notes