Int én bec
ro léc feit
do rinn guip
glanbuidi
fo-ceird faíd
ós Loch Laíg,
lon do chraíb
charnbuidi
9th Century Irish
This sculpture depicting a girl and blackbird reading a book is outside the library on the Ormeau Road, Belfast.
It was inspired by Seamus Heaney’s poem “The Blackbird of Belfast Lough” which, I believe, has been based on the ninth century poem above, translated by Seamus.
The small bird
chirp-chirruped:
yellow neb,
a note-spurt.
Blackbird over
Lagan water.
Clumps of yellow
whin-burst!
Seamus Heaney
Another version of the Blackbird of Belfast Lough
the little bird
that whistled shrill
from the nib of
its yellow bill:
a note let go
o’er Belfast Lough –
a blackbird from
a yellow whin
Ciaran Carson
Unfortunately I was unable to find any information about the sculptor of this piece.
It’s a good thing you mentioned the black bird, because I would have missed it. I’m glad I clicked on the picture to get a larger view. Lovely sculpture and poem!
I would have missed the bird too, had I not enlarged the pic.
With the tree and the buildings all around it was difficult to get a clear picture. I was also trying to keep up with a Toyboy! I wonder if Paul remembers that day?
That poetry would flummox me. What’s a nib or a neb?
Maria G – Was it not the yellow beak?
I like it best in Irish. I love listening to it (the language) even though I have no idea what is being said. Such a soft and beautiful language.
Tilly – I know a few wonderful native Irish speakers and love to listen to them even though I struggle with the language myself.
I do indeed remember that day. I think we were (well I was anyway) beginning to tire by then – though we still had to walk along the river and up the hill.
BWT – I think you dragged me up the hill! It was a good day with nice memories.
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