frog

Frog

by Ceaití Ní Bheildiúin

A meditating frog am I

sitting silently

sucking syllables muddily

through paper-thin skin

I pray to Heqet of Egypt

goddess of frogs

goddess of midwives

help them to float –

these slimy verses
in their tiny paper boat

(Translated by Gabriel Rosenstock)

Frog

Frog ag machnamh mé

a shuíonn gan chorraí

ag sú focal ó shláthach

trí mo chraiceann tanaí.

Guím ar Heqet na hÉigipte,

bandia na bhfrog,

bandia na mban-chabhartha,

dánta mo chuid ubhán

a sheoladh slán

ina mbád beag páir ar an saol.