Three Tanka After Monet, in Irish and English, by Gabriel Rosenstock

Grove of Olive Trees in Bordighera, by Claude Monet (France). 1884.

ar labhair tú, a mhaoin
leis na crainn ológa
nach casta iad a gcuid scéalta
       is nach ársa
       beir ar lámh orm  

have you spoken, beloved
to the olive trees
how convoluted their stories
       and how ancient
       take my hand 

Grainstacks at Giverny, Sunset, by Claude Monet (France). 1889.

​cuir lasair faoi m’aisling
cuir fíor na spéire trí thine
dóigh m’inchinn
              déan íobairt díom, a thaisce
              más toil leat é
 
burn my vision –
set fire to the horizon
to my brain
       make a sacrifice of me
       beloved, if you will 

The Geese, by Claude Monet (France). 1874.

​ar éist tú leis an nuacht
nó, mo dhála féin,
ar thugais cluas do na géanna
       an leigheas is fearr, a stór
       ar bharraíocht eolais
 
sweetheart, heard the news?
or, like me, do you hearken
to the prattling of geese
       perfect antidote
       to information overload 

Gabriel Rosenstock

Gabriel Rosenstock was born in postcolonial Ireland. He is a poet, translator, haikuist, tankaist, playwright, essayist and novelist.