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