Black ’47, a bilingual poem about an apocalyptic event in Ireland.

Black ’47, the title of a new film and subject of this poem, refers to a dark year in 19th century Ireland when – in a military operation – foodstuffs and livestock were exported to Britain during the potato blight. Millions starved to death.  Droimeann Donn Dílis (‘darling white-backed brown cow’) refers to a beloved bovine that symbolised Ireland herself: poets had to invent over 200 poetic names for Ireland where it was forbidden under English law to even mention the name of their country. The immortal song of the distressed ‘cow’ is sung here exquisitely by Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1ENsn2ruys

Black ’47

by Gabriel Rosenstock

In a shambles over in England

lie the bones of a cow –

darling cow, white-backed and brown

Somewhere in Ireland

a landlord opens a bottle of wine

‘Milk!’ whispers a dying child in a ditch

a feverish voice somewhere says, ‘Butter!’

In a shambles over in England

lie the bones of a cow

a youth has pocketed one of her eyes

when it dries he’ll play marbles

’47 an Bhróin

le Gabriel Rosenstock

I seamlas thall i Sasana

tá cnámha bó ina luí –

droimeann donn dílis

Thiar in Éirinn

osclaíonn tiarna talún buidéal fíona

‘Bainne!’ arsa páiste go faon cois claí

‘Im!’ arsa guth mearbhlach i mball éigin.

I seamlas thall i Sasana

tá cnámha bó ina luí

leathshúil léi ina phóca ag ógánach

nuair a bheidh sí triomaithe imreoidh sé mirlíní

Gabriel Rosenstock’s latest volume of poems is

       Glengower: Poems for No One in Irish and English

(The Onslaught Press)

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