17. Japanese For Everyone Hiragana 1

Japanese For Everyone

Ceacht 1: Réamhullmhú

Seachtain 1 Hiragana 1

Níl a fhios ag lucht atá aineolach ar theangacha iasachta tada faoina dteanga féin 

– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Cuideoidh an cúrsa seo libh leis an leabhar Japanese For Everyone le Susumu Nagara a úsáid.

Sa chéad ceacht seo, foghlaimeoidh tú conas hiragana a léamh sula dtosnaíonn tú an leabhar.

Ullmhú 1

Seachtain 1. Ullmhú 1. Ag foghlaim hiragana

Lá 1 Ag cur aithne ar dhaoine

一Ichi Céim 1

Na fuaimeanna: i►E (í) agus e►A (é)

Tosaigh leis na gutaí. Bí cúramach. Tá dhá fhuaim atá éagsúil.

i►fuaim í agus e►fuaim é

i ar nós é in éasca agus

e ar nós A in aon.

Ord:  a, i, u, e, o

Fuaimeanna:

a mar in aip

i ► í

u ► ú

e►é

o► ó

Léigh go mall.

頑張って＝Gambatte = Tabhair faoi!

Ha ji me ma shi te.

Wa ta shi wa sen sei de su.

Yo ro shi ku o ne gai shi ma su.

Go maith. Anois, léigh arís é.

Hajimemashite.

Watashi wa sensei desu.

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Iontach. Uair amháin eile agus lig don u ag an deireadh bheith ciúin i desu agus i masu.

Hajimemashite.

Watashi wa sensei desu.

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Maith thú!

Anois foghlaim ó http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYiEcPEZS2U&feature=fvst

Lá 2 ABC (hiragana).

Anois agus aithne againn ar a chéile, ar aghaidh linn.

Is féidir Romaji, an ABC a úsáid ach b’fhearr go mór an hiragana a fhoghlaim.

Tá na gutaí againn. Ar aghaidh linn go na consain.

Eolas faoi na consain:

1. Bíonn G crua i gcónaí. Ní athraíonn sé go j. Amantaí, bíonn fuaim ng leis, ach níl sé cosúil le j sa Bhéarla ná sa Fhraincis.

2. Bíonn J i gcónaí mar an J sa Bhéarla agus ní mar an J sa Fhraincis.

3. De ghnáth beidh consan agus guta ag teacht le chéile le litir nó siolla a dhéanamh.

Is é N an t-aon consan gan guta. Athraíonn sé go M roimh B

二Ni Céim 2

Anois, tá na fuaimeanna agat, bain triail as na fuaimeanna. Léigh os ard iad.

Anseo thíos thíos feisfidh tú hiragana agus Romaji (faoi).

あ a

い i

う u

え e

お o

か ka

き ki

く ku

け ke

こ ko

さ sa

し shi

す su

せ se

そ so

た ta

ち chi

つ tsu

て te

と to

な na

に ni

ぬ nu

ね ne

の no

は ha

ひ hi

ふ fu

へ he

ほ ho

ま ma

み mi

む mu

め me

も mo

や ya

ゆ yu

よ yo

ら ra

り ri

る ru

れ re

ろ ro

わ を　んwa o n

Sin é.

Lá 2 Foghlaim – Cúnamh le Quizlet: http://alturl.com/yqb5w

Tuirseach?

Rud eile mar sin. Comhrá?

Bhfuil tú go maith? Genki?

Éist agus abair anseo: http://alturl.com/yhz7c

Lá 3 Léamh.

Tá na fuaimeanna againn. Tá na litreacha uainn.

1. Hiragana

2. Katakana (Na fuaimeanna céanna ach le focail iasachta a léiriú)

3. Kanji (ón tSín. Pictiúirí atá iontu)

Inniu: hiragana.

Éist agus abair: http://alturl.com/wwuww

Maith thú

Dáiríre?

Honto ni?

Dáiríre!

Honto ni!

☺

Éist agus abair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNTPbcjOzdw

Seo linn ag léamh

Freagraí: http://quizlet.com/9739613/japanese-for-everyone-h1-flash-cards/

一Ichi Léigh

A:            あ　　　　い　　　　う　　　　え　　　　お

K:            か　　　　き　　　　く　　　　け　　　　こ

S:             さ　　　　し　　　　す　　　　せ　　　　そ

Anois, léigh na focail a leanas:

１．あい　__        ２．うえ__      ３．え__          ４．あおい__  ５．いいえ

1. grá                 2. ar/thuas/os cionn     3. pictiúr            4. gorm           5. ní hea

6.あかい＿_　　７．かお＿＿　８．き＿＿　　９．いけ＿＿　　１０．ここ＿＿

6．dearg           7. aghaidh           8. crann           9. linn                    10. anseo

Céard faoin bhfocal seo？ すし

Cuir an focal desu (des) leis agus tá abairt agat.

Mar shampla, Ai desu. = Grá atá ann. Ue desu. = Tá sé thuas.

Le ceist a chur,  deireann tú Nan desu ka. (Cad é?)

Is é an focal ka an comhartha ceiste agus deireann tú é.  ☺

Cleachtadh

Cuir ceist ar do chara: Nan desu ka. Freagair leis na huimhreacha 1-10 thuas.

Maith thú. Tóg sos. Téigh amach ag siúl.

Téigh siar ar Lá 2 agus ansin, ar aghaidh linn. Maith thú.

Lá 4 Léigh níos mó

二Ni 　Léigh

T:　た　　　ち　　　つ　　　　て　　　　と

N:　な　　　に　　　ぬ　　　　ね　　　　の

H:　は　　　ひ　　　ふ　　　　へ　　　　ほ

Anois, léigh na focail seo:

１．いち　__        ２．いつ__      ３．て__          ４．そと__  ５．あと__

1. a haon             2. cathain          3. lámh             4. amuigh      5. tar éis

6. に＿_　　７．いぬ＿＿　８．ねこ＿＿　　９．この＿＿　　１０．なに＿＿

6. a dó          7. madra         　  8. cat                   9. seo               10. cad

The H line has secrets.

i) は can be pronounced ha or wa depending on its function.

Watashi は is pronounced watashi wa. It’s a topic marker.

ii)  へ as it can be pronounced he or e depending on its function。

Yama へ ikimasu is pronounced yama e ikimasu. It’s a directional verb marker.

For now just know there are two possible ways to pronounce は and へ .

Good job. Reward yourself with a treat. Go to a Japanese restaurant?

Day 5 Read even more

Review previous work and let’s push on as we’re almost done. This is great!

三San Read

M:　ま　　　み　　　　む　　　　め　　　　　も

Y:　や　　　　　　　　ゆ　　　　　　　　　　よ

R:　ら　　　り　　　　る　　　　れ　　　　　ろ

Try reading it forwards and backwards and upwards and downwards.

Now try words:

１．いま　__        ２．もも__      ３．むし__          ４．みみ__  ５．あめ

1. now                 2. peach            3. insect             4. ear           5. rain

6.やま＿_　　７．ゆき＿＿　８．よこ＿＿　　９．あたま＿＿　　１０．なまえ＿＿

6．mountain   7. snow        　  8. beside              9. head               10. name

これ　means this.　それ means that.　　あれ means that over there.

Last line:　 わ　　を　　ん

Now try words:

１．わたし＿＿＿＿　２．すみさせん　＿＿＿　３．これ　を　ください。

１．I　　　　　　　　　　２．Excuse me。　　　　　　３．This please.

Excellent. Now you need to buy yourself something good. How about a kendama? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOiB8CEDQlU

For the weekend review all you have done or take a break.

Study this over and over until you feel very comfortable you can recognize the letters. This is essential before you start your textbook

三San Step 3.  ♥ A gift for you to reward you for your hard work ♥

Gift 1: You have a textbook! It’s called Japanese For Everyone Here it is:http://alturl.com/dbcvw

Gift 2: If you like courses from prestigious universities, feel free to supplement your study with free resources from a course from MIT!

日本語 – MIT Japanese 1: http://alturl.com/2aox

Preparation for Week 2

Start looking at your textbook http://alturl.com/dbcvw

Go to the vocabulary on page 22 so you can prepare for lesson 2 when we will start our textbook! Here’s some more help with the vocabulary Japanese For Everyone Chapter 1 so you can prepare better for Lesson 1 of the textbook if you are feeling very diligent.

頑張って

You have laid the foundation for a successful course. This will pay off big time for you.

At the end of all this work you need to reward yourself and your mind.

Relax with http://alturl.com/7jcgj

That feels so good.

Yatta! You did it!

 

16. Irish – Ceacht 2

Lesson 2  Come In and Welcome / Fáilte Isteach    Fawlte istoch

    Always begin with a blessing.

Greet someone with Dia dhuit Díah ghit

or with the response if the other person says it first Dia ‘s Muire dhuit Deeahs mwire ghit.

Right then, let’s move on. This lesson is about sounds, basic conversations and time.

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SOUNDS

2.0 Review of short and long vowels 

Verb: to be               Remember the sounds of á aw, é ay, í ee, ó oh, ú oo?   

Tá mé                                                     I am

Tá tú                                                      You are

Tá sé                                                      He/ It is*

Tá sí                                                       She/It is

*As in French and Spanish and many other languages, things have gender in Irish.

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COMBINATIONS OF TWO VOWELS ► ONE SOUND

2.1

When a is the second letter in a two vowel combination, the first vowel is made long.

ia ► í                                          ciall (kíl), grian (grín), bliain (blíin), riamh (rív)

ua ► ú                                        suas (sús), suan (sún), uasal (úsul)

BUT because e is weaker than a

ea   ► a                                      sea (sha), bealach (baloch), seans (shans), lean (lan), seas (shas)

Check the sounds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAJstNFJGiA

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BASIC CONVERSATIONS

2.2                Conversation 1 How are you?

The question How are you? has three variations depending on the region. Choose one.

A. Cén chaoi ‘bhfuil tú?                     Kayn chee wil too?            How are you?      (Western)

Cad é mar atá tú?                          Koday mor atah too?          How are you?      (Northern)

Conas atá /tánn tú?                      Kunus ataw/tawn too?        How are you?      (Southern)

B. Go maith                                    Gu moh                             Well/good.

Tá mé go maith                              Taw may gu moh              I am well/good.

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2.2.1 How are you? Audio with answers

Listen to the elements of a basic conversation here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BmoCUCBCzs

All you need for now is #2 How are you? Literal translation:  Which way are you? 0:13- 0:34

A. Cén chaoi’ bhfuil tú?

Bi: Níl aon caill orm. There’s no loss on me. (I’m fine).

Bii: Tá mé togha. I’m great.

Biii: Tá mé thar cinn. I’m over my head (like walking on air – I’m excellent).

Biv: Níl aon corr orm  There’s no oddness on me. (I’m fine)

Bv: Níl aon ceall orm. There’s not a bother on me. ( I’m fine)

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2..2 .2               Conversation 2 Identifying People

A. Cé hé tusa?/                                 Kay hay tusa?                   Who are you?

Cad is ainm duit?                               Kod is anim dit?                 What’s your name?

B. Is mise Cliona./                             Is misheh Kleeuna.            I’m Cliona.

Cliona is ainm dom.                           Kleeuna is anim dum.       My name is Cliona.

A. Cé hé an duine sin?                       Kay hay on dine shin?         Who’s that person (male)?

Cé hí an duine sin?                             Kay hee on dine shin?         Who’s that person (female)?

B. Sin é Seán.                                    Shin ay Shawn.                  That is Seán.

Sin í Sinéad.                                       Shin ee Shinayd.                That is Sinéad.

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A: Dia dhuit.                                                                                      Hello

Is mise Síle.                     Is mishu Sheelu.                                        I’m Sheila

B: Dia ‘s Muire dhuit Síle.                                                                    Hello  Sheila

Is mise Seán.                                                                                     I’m Sean.

A: Cé hé an duine sin?                                                                        Who’s that person?

B. Sin é Tomás.                   Shin ay Tumaws.                                    That’s Tomás.

A: Cé hí an duine sin?                                                                         Who’s that person?

B: Sin í Siobhán.                   Sin ee Shuvawn.                                    That’s Siobhán.

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2.2 3. Conversation 3:  Borrowing something                                       

A: An leabhar led’ thoil.         On lower(rhymes with tower) led hul      The book please.

B: Seo dhuit                                         Shu  git                                  Here you are.

A: Go raibh maith agat                     Gura moha gut                            Thank you. (May you have good)

B: Tá fáilte romhat                             Taw fawlte roht                         You’re welcome.

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TIME

2.3                             Time

Cén t-am é?                                         Kayn tom ay?                    What time is it?

clog                                                      klug                                   clock

a chlog                                                 a chlug                              o’clock

Tá sé a haon a chlog                            Taw shay a hayn a chlug.   It’s one o’clock.

Numbers: 1. a haon a hayn,   2. a dó a doh,  3. a trí a tree,  4. a ceathair a kahir,  5.  a cúig a kooig,  6. a sé a shay,  7. a seacht a shocht,  8. a hocht a hucht, 9. a naoi a nee,  10. a deich a de

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2.3.1 Extra audio resource:Introductions (Liam Ó Maonlaí)

1. Hello. Dia dhuit. 2. Please let me introduce myself. Lig dom mé fhéin a chur in aithne. 3. My name is Peader. Peader is ainm dom. 4. Hi. My name is Sean. Haigh. Seán is ainm dom. 5. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Tá sé deas bualadh leat. 6. How are you? Conas tánn tú? 7. I’m fine and you? Tá mé go breá agus tú féin? 8. Good. Thank you. Go maith. Go raibh maith agat.  9. I’m from Dublin. Is as Baile Atha Cliath domsa. 11. I’m from Donegal. Is as Dún na nGall dom. 12. You’re from Kerry? Whereabouts? Is as Ciarraí dhuit? Cén áit? Kerry is a beautiful place. 13. Tá Ciarraí go hálainn. 14. Hello. Please let me introduce myself. My name is Sean. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m from Dublin. Are you from Kerry? Kerry is a beautiful place. Dia dhuit. Lig dom mé fhéin a chur in aithne. Seán is ainm dom. Tá sé deas bualadh leat. Is as Baile Atha Cliath dom. An as Ciarraí dhuit? Tá Ciarraí go hálainn. 15. Well, it was nice meeting you. Bhuel, deas bualadh leat. 16. Goodbye. Slán.

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2.4 Irish Mythology: Bealtaine Byaltineh

May 1st is an important day in Irish mythology. Three of the five groups of invaders of Ireland arrived on this day called Lá Bealtaine.

It marked the beginning of summer in the Celtic year. All fires around the country were extinguished on this day and then new sacred fires were lit in honor of the Celtic sun god Bel. The central point and biggest festival was at the hill of Uisneach Ishnoch and from its flames other fires were lit on hills all around the land. Some people still put flowers outside their door for May 1^st to welcome the May queen.

In ancient Irish law tracts, this was also a time for divorces. May was believed to be an unlucky time for marriages.

2.5 Homework

A. Telling the time

Cén t-am é?         Give the following times in Irish. Try saying them aloud.

1. 1:00                        6. 6:00                   Answer: 1. Tá sé a haon a chlog.
2. 2:00                        7. 7:00
3. 3:00                        8. 8:00
4. 4:00                        9. 9:00
5. 5:00                        10. 10:00

B. Reading vowels     Read the underlined words aloud:

1. sa (in)                2. sár (extremely)               3. te (hot)             4. té  (person)                  5. do  (to)              6. dó  (to him)             7. ubh bh►v (egg)             8.  úll (apple)        *Remember o is pronounced as the o in other

15. ♫ Luke Slott

I discovered a new musician today. The talented Irishman Luke Slott plays trumpet, guitar and piano and also sings and composes his own music.  The notes I heard, embraced, and share here today will bring you (at least in images and thoughts) from Dublin to Iran. And I’m pleased with my new discovery. Luke also writes a great blog and I just discovered him an hour ago. Listening to this music is a wonderful way to pass away an afternoon. So I share his notes with you.

It all started on Youtube with a video of Dublin called

No Road Back  http://alturl.com/m8zdr

(watch it – it will make your day brighter). The images and the amazing original music with glorious trumpet sounds caught me. It brought back memories and took me home.

So I found another piece by this trumpeter Luke Slott and found out he plays  piano too. He even played the piano in Grafton Street and the piece he played sent me to a Rumi poem that shares the title. Despite the title, the dreams are wonderful in both the music and the poem. How fun traveling with music.

Don’t Go Back To Sleep

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLOcmFjlDco

Rumi Poem

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.

Don’t go back to sleep.

You must ask for what you really want.

Don’t go back to sleep.

People are going back and forth across the door sill

where the two worlds touch.

The door is round and open.

Don’t go back to sleep.

When it was finished I went to find out more about him at his website where I found him playing a moving composition  on guitar that he dedicated to those suffering religious persecution on Iran. What a dream this one is, to free people from persecution. Now, I was hooked. Have a listen.

One Hundred Thousand Veils

http://alturl.com/ivpqu

Come down

and walk these roads around

the city of Tehran

where seven candles burn.

Follow me

all you who claim to be

possessed of charity

down to the Crimson Sea.

One hundred thousand veils have covered the sun

and darkest clouds have blocked and blackened the blue sky.

Did you hear the fate

of those who educate,

who even in the grave

find no respite from hate?

Have you seen the youth

who gave their lives for truth,

that girl who kissed the noosed

and welcomed all abuse?

One hundred thousand suns have fallen to earth

with blasts that block the ears from hearing the new song.

One hundred thousand veils have covered the truth.

How many mothers’ cries are lost in the tumult?

There is no war to fight

You have no sacred right

No holy book to cite

To make these wrongs seem right.

Does it so offend

to want this world to mend,

to walk in hope to the end

and see each man a friend?

Come down

and walk these roads around

the cities of Iran

which boast so much to man.

On his website http://www.lukeslott.com/  I also learned that in No Road Back, the first video I had watched, he was able to add his track to that of his father who had recording his part before he passed away. So they accompanied each other defying the limits of time. Details like that make music even more alive. The world according to Luke through his music and website is beautiful and hopeful and caring.

Today has become a blessed day thanks to art and beauty and the desire to share.

Find art, my friends. It is everywhere.

14. Conejo Valley life

An Easier Life

I’ve been taking it easier, stopping on Malibu Beach for a walk each day, taking long baths at night, reading good books and watching rabbits at play in the Conejo (rabbit) Valley where I live. Part of that was to recover from the Black Widow Spider bite and part a realization that I am a better person when I have a decent amount of rest.

Martin Luther King Day saw me visit the Museum of Tolerance for the first time. It’s well worth the visit. The word Tolerance always confuses me as there is that contradiction of being so tolerant you tolerate intolerance and well that really doesn’t help. Still I was impressed, especially with the café that dealt with the topic of bullying.

Two bombs went off in Derry today and that got me thinking about the “troubles” and British occupation in Ireland, India and Australia. Rabbit Proof Fence is a must-see film on how the aborigines were fenced in like rabbits. After all the dark images and reminders of Darfur and Kosovo too , I sought hope and found it in a poem by Lithuanian poet Czeslaw Milosz:

Incantation

Human reason is beautiful and invincible.

No bars, no barbed wire, no pulping of books,

No sentence of banishment can prevail against it.

It puts what should be above things as they are.

It does not know Jew from Greek nor slave from master.

So on a positive thought like that I went out to spend some time watching the rabbits come out to play at sunset.

From California’s Conejo Valley then here’s a simple Irish poem too best served with some music from

Colm Mac Con Iomaire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHIHHwSpNW8

An Coinín

“Thíos faoin talamh istigh i bpoll, tá leaba agamsa,”arsa an coinín donn.

Heeus fween toluv istih i bul, taw laba ogumsa ersa on cuneen dun.

“Down under the ground, inside in a hole, I have a bed,” said the brown rabbit.

“Ní scríobhaim ceacht le cailc ná peann is ní théim ar scoil,” arsa an coinín donn.

Nee shkreevum kyocht leh kaheelk naw pyon is nee haym er skul ersa on cuneen dun.

“I don’t write lessons with chalk or a pen and I don’t go to school,” said the brown rabbit.

“Ach bím ag imirt, luath is mall, amuigh sa pháirc,”arsa an coinín donn.

Och beem eg imirt, looah is mol, amuh sa foyrk ersa on cuneen dun.

“But I do play, early and late, out in the field,” said the brown rabbit.

So listen to some good music from Colm Mac Con Iomaire, light some incense, settle into a good read and sleep well, a chairde.

13. Ogham – Lesson 1

My quest to know my own culture better continues. As I promise myself I will learn to write and read Ogham, I start today with the basics.

OGHAM WRITING

Ogham writing appeared in the 4th century stones.  Ireland has many stones with Ogham writing, mostly in the south of Ireland in Cork and Kerry. So, what is it? Ogham is an ancient (circa 4th century) writing system of twenty-five characters found on stone and wood inscriptions in Ireland and other Celtic lands. One to five straight or angled lines meet or cross a center line. It can be written vertically or horizontally. Each consonant or vowel represents a tree, a lunar month and an element, creature or quality. The vowel combinations represent a solstice or equinox and words: 2 more trees/plants, 2 places (woods and water) and 1 object (a spindle that forms the thread).

The 5 vowels and 15 consonants:

 

There are 25 letter sounds: 15 consonants, 5 vowels, and 5 vowel combinations. They can be signed by hand by pointing to a position on a thumb or finger:

Fingers    thumb   index      middle    ring         little

tip           B              L             F             S             N

1^st ⅓      H             D             T              C              Q

2^nd ⅓      M            G             nG           St             R

3^rd  ⅓       A            O             U             E              I

Under     ea             oi           ui            ia            ae

I have to admit I found that part fascinating. I think I’ll write the letters on my hand and start practicing.

Here’s an old chart from a Welsh school of the Ogham alphabet with its rune equivalent:

An oft quoted legend has it that Ogham was invented by the learned poet Ogma Mac Elathan (Ogmios).

As each letter represents some aspect of time, we should begin with the Celtic Calendar

The Celtic Tree Lunar Calendar                    

A wonderful site on Ogham here

The 13 month Beth-Luis-Nion lunar calendar is named after trees each represented by a consonant. Equinoxes and solstices (approx. dates here) were represented by vowels.

1. Birch                       B – Beth:                12/24  – 20/1
2. Rowan                    L – Luis:                 21/1– 17/2
3. Ash                         N – Nion :              18/2- 17/3
4. Alder                      F – Fearn:              18/3 – 14/4
5. Willow                    S – Saille:               15/4 – 12/5
6. Hawthorn              H – Huath:             13/5 – 9/6
7. Oak                         D – Duir:                10/6 – 7/7
8. Holly                       T – Tinne:              8/7 – 4/8
9. Hazel                      C – Coll:                    5/8 – 1/9
10. Vine                        M – Muin:             2/9 – 29/9
11. Ivy                           G – Gort:                30/9– 27/10
12. Reed                       Ng – Ngetal:          28/10– 24/11
13. Elder                       R – Ruis:                 25/11– 23/12

i) Furze           O – Onn                  Spring Equinox        21/3

ii) Heather     U – Ura                   Summer Solstice    21/6

iii) Poplar       E – Eadha               Autumnal Equinox   21/9

iv) Yew           I –Idho                    Winter Solstice Eve 20/12

v) Fir               A – Ailm                   Winter Solstice         21/12

Ogham is fascinating because it’s not just a letter or a symbol. It also represents the passing of time as each letter stands for a month. It has other levels of meaning too including a divination system (lost in time I’m afraid). I should not get ahead of myself though. Let’s get the basic symbols down first.

Down version	Ogham	Tree	Irish	Association 1	Association
1 Right	ᚁ Beith  B	Birch	Beith	Eagle	Start
	ᚂ Luis    L	Rowan	Caorann	Horse	Protected
	ᚃ Fearn F	Alder	Fearnóg	Wren	Guidance
	ᚄ Sail    S	Willow	Saileach	Bee	Female
	ᚅ Nion N	Ash	Fuinseog	Fire	Unity
2 Left	ᚆ Uath   H	Hawthorn	Crann sceach	Stag	Cleansing
	ᚇ Dair   D	Oak	Dair	Power	Strength
	ᚈ Tinne T	Holly	Cuileann	Swan	Justice
	ᚉ Coll   C	Hazel	Coll	Wells	Wisdom
	ᚊ Ceirt K	Apple	Crann úll	Female	Choices
3 Crossed	ᚋ Muin M	Vine	Finiúin		Prophecy
	ᚌ Gort G	Ivy	Eidhneán		Discovery
	ᚍnGéadalNG	Reed	Giolcach		Action
	ᚎ Straif ST	Blackthorn	Draighean		Negation
	ᚏ Ruis  R	Elder	Trom		Renewal
4 Crossed	ᚐ Ailm A	Fir	Giúis		Foresight
	ᚑ Onn O	Furze	Aiteann		Gathering
	ᚒ Úr   U	Heather	Fraoch		Healing
	ᚓ EadhadhE	Poplar	Poibleog		Courage
	ᚔ Iodhadh I	Yew	Iúr		Rebirth
5	ᚕ Éabhadh EA	Aspen	CrannCreathach		Meditation
	ᚖ Ór           OI	Gooseberry	Spíonán
	ᚗ Uilleann UI	Beech	Fáibhile		Ancestors
	ᚘ Ifín          IA	Thorn	Fál
	ᚙEamhanchollAE	Hazel grove	Garrán Choll

OK. I’ll take a break now and practice and see how much I can remember. I’ll do 5 a day for 5 days and test myself at the end of the week.

12. ♫Somewhere To Fall Apart

 

Make art! Make art! declared Glen Hansard as he received his Oscar so someone got some lino and made this image of Glen himself. It was done by suffering from realness

I suffer from that too. Words were falling through me and fooling me today and it was a full blown case of a mala racha so I thought of how we fall apart at times.

I was looking out from the Marina Del Rey near Los Angeles, California, and it was getting chilly and when I thought of broken things and people who have gone away. It’s been happening to me lately. People leave.

I looked out on the water as one of Glen’s songs played in my head.

 

 

 

It was a strange one with an upbeat tempo but a dark line of thought but as always with a message of hope at the end of our dark tunnels:

Well the ruins of man, the bloodied rag,

 

lead the fool, the bull, the powdered hag.

The nights they make them rattle at

the wolves that follow the outed man.

The falling star, the way we are divine.

I celebrated the chance to be melancholic and rebellious and mad and me and the words kept me company:

Well they call you saint, a basket case.

The rules of thumb you had to break:

the raging skull, the rag to the bull,

the nails that drag in either hand.

Well I will make my work of that.

I know this place I know this task.

If you need somewhere to fall apart …

Sometimes it’s really hard to be apart from those you love.

Music then becomes my best friend, always with me.

Water, music, poetry…my medicine.

Art heals me and requires no HMOs.

 

 

There is pleasure in the pathless woods. There is a rapture on the lonely shore. There is society, where none intrudes. By the deep sea, and music in its roar: I love not Man the less, but Nature more

– Lord Byron

11. Poems of War

Iomlán an Scéil

She said goodbye and went together,
D’fhág sí slán agus d’imigh léi in éindí

with her sisters, huddled in hope
lena deirfiúracha go dlúth le dóchas,

and quick short steps.
le sodar corrach.

In the street a four-year-old boy
Sa tsráid bhí leaidín, ceithre bliana d’aois

sat by his headless mother
ina shuí lena mháthair dícheannta

asking her what had happened.
ag iarraidh uirthi céard a thit amach.

The patio was divided:
Bhí an patio scartha:

entire bodies here, limbs there.
coirp iomlán anseo, géaga ansiúd.

His cell phone ring revealed his lower half.
Léirigh glaoch gutháin a leath íochtar.

In the warm Baghdad breeze, they buried their hands
I bhfannán te Baghdad, sháigh siad a lámha

in flesh and blood and went home,
sa chorp is fuil is d’fhill,

broken, with both halves.
briste, leis an dhá leath.

10. An Sulán – A River’s Dark Nature

Right now the Santa Ana winds are really howling, it’s a full moon (or nearly), and an owl is making sounds overhead so it seems appropriate to translate a poem about a river with a dark nature.

I discovered the Sulán river when I went to Féile na Laoch http://feilenalaoch.com/ (The Festival of Heroes) in Cúil Aodha in West Cork this summer. It was an amazing gathering of the best of Irish cultural talent in poetry, storytelling, music, singing, dancing, acting and other forms of performance of the arts, all for free, all night long in a field in the middle of nowhere which in fact turned out to be quite a magical somewhere by the Sulán river.

All I knew about it when I arrived was that it was the only river in Ireland that was masculine and that it wanted a sacrifice every seven years. I’ve learned since The Foyle is masculine too. Things have gender in the Irish language and all the rivers were feminine except this one, or so I thought at the time. Up until that point I had looked on wells and ponds and lakes as blessed with the exception of Lake Derravaragh which scared me. So off I went wandering to see what the fuss was about.

The events stayed away from the river and that was perhaps a good thing. Even though it looked more like a stream, it had a strong current. As lovely as it was, I would not have dared go in. On the eve of Lúnasa (August) as my body tried to cope with the effects of a very long hike over the mountains that day and the cold of an Irish night, I listened to poetry in my own language, heard music in the old style, watched dancers and got lost in it so much I forgot that my body was shaking from exhaustion.

It was a different place and a wondrous time for one night and it is the second time that I have felt I was in a more honest world where we were all truly connected. That could have been delirium setting in but I like to think it was more than that and it had to do with the land. There are sacred places on this earth and Cúil Aodha was surely one that night.

For every positive force there must be a balance perhaps and if so the river Sulán is given the role of the villain. Today I found the poem about the Sulán river in Irish and translated it here.

Leac leis na focail a thosnaíonn an dán le feiceáil san áit

An Sulán le Seán Ó Céilleachair
Mise an Sulán, fuar, fada, fireann, I am the Sulawn, cold, long, manly strong
Anois an t-am cá bhfuil an duine? Now is the time, where’s the person I’m owed?
Sin é a deirim is mé ag rith le fuinneamh, That’s what I say as I’m driven along
Ar mo bhealach chun farraige síos thar an Muileann. On my way to the sea by the mill below.

Is fada ‘s is casta é mo chúrsa, ‘Tis long and crooked the journey I make
Ó’n tobairín taobh le Barr a’ Chúma. From the little well by mountain’s peak.
Is mall é mo thuras ‘s is uaigneach, ‘Tis slow my trip, ‘tis a lonely way
Trí páirceanna, portacha ‘s díoganna cúnga. As I pass through fields and ditches and peat.

Is minic a ghluaisim thar mo bhruacha, ‘Tis often I spill o’er my banks to the land
Ar mo thuras dom soir trí Baile Mhúirne. As through Ballyvourney on eastward I flow.
Is árd ‘s is freagrach mo ghuth ar uairibh, At times it grows strong, my voice’s demand
Le linn dom síneadh go deireadh mo chúrsa. As I stretch on towards the end of the road.

Is iomaí gearán is cnáimhseáil a chuala, I’ve heard many complaints and many a whine
Ó’n iascaire searúsach is é go buartha. Coming from bitter fishermen’s ranks.
Ba mhinic dó áfach bradán a sciobadh, Even still ’tis from me the salmon they swipe,
Istigh im lár nó gar dom bhruacha. From out of my belly or from close to my banks.

Na h-oícheanta geimhridh is ea bhím-sé brónach, On winter nights I’m sad, without hope
An talamh máguaird is mo bhruacha reoite. All the land nearby ‘n my banks frozen dead.
Creathán im ghuth is an sioc im scórnach, A waver in my voice and frost in my throat
Brat ós mo chionn is é fuar ceomhar. A foggy cold is a cloak o’er my head.

Le teacht an earraigh is ea’ thagann an mhúscailt, As Spring arrives, the awakening begins
Is caithim-se díom an fhéachaint ghruama. And I throw off my look of dreary black.
Éiríonn lem neart is braithim an fústar, I rise with strength and again feel the whims
‘S tagann arís an fonn is an fuadar. And the hustle and bustle, it all comes back.

An samhradh sámh taithníonn go mór liom, Tranquil summer really pleases me,
Is deas é an gáire is an comhluadar, ‘Tis nice the laughter and the company.
Daoine ag siúl ar mo bhruacha, On my banks the people are walking you see,
Cuid acu aerach is cuid acu buartha. Some happy, others feeling less so free.

Orthu go léir bím-se ag faire, I watch them as I move along,
An buchaillín óg is an gearrchaile, Young lads and young lassies all.
An fear meán aosta is an gaiscíoch láidir, Middle aged men and heroes so strong
‘S bím-se á mealladh chun mo línnte a shnámhadh. ‘Swim in my waters,’ to people I call.

Go hobann ansan is ea thárlaíonn sé, It happens then suddenly all out of nowhere,
Is tosnaíonn an t-olagán is an caoineadh. The weeping starts,  the keening is loud.
An fear mór groí is é fuar sínte, A big strong man now stretched out cold there,
Amuigh ar mo bhruach i measc slua mór daoine. Out on my bank, in the midst of the crowd.

Gluaisim liom ansan ar mire Then in a frenzy I move along
Is fágaim im ‘dhiaidh an gol is an caoineadh. And leave behind me the weeping and woe.
Mar mise an Sulán fuar fada fireann, For I am the Sulawn cold, long, manly strong
Tháinig an t-am is sciobas an duine. The time came and I snatched the one I was owed.

Seo amhrán eile faoin Sulán: Amhrán an tSuláin sa Sean Nós 

Dán eile as Béarla faoi anseo

 

9. Lecciones de la familia

Lecciones de la familia

Lección 1: La concordancia del género

Rechaza su beso con un tedio frío. Los sentimientos son masculinos; la emoción es femenina. Sale el padre. El trabajo es masculino.

La cara de la madre se vuelve rojo como la sangre. Por eso la niña pinta letras gigantescas escarlatas en la cocina:

¡Abrázale, bésale con la ternura que no cuesta nada! La cólera es femenina.

En silencio cómplice, preparan la cena. El padre tiene cosas más  importantes que hacer y no ve las letras mágicas.  La brujería es femenina.

En la noche, la niña y su muñeca juegan con
palabras: en cárcel, encarcelada, castiga, castigada,
casada, casados, cansadas. Juego y ritmo: masculinos.

Lección 2: El olvido

El padre pide a su hijo dinero.
Afuera del banco en la presencia
de todo el mundo le da la fortuna.

Por un instante el pasado penetra el muro
de piedras rectangulares, cortadas de canteras,
con una muela rencorosa, apiladas sobre tierra sagrada en homenaje a la nueva fe.

Una ráfaga ponderosa de cólera le castiga su olvido del sabor fresco del agua de los pozos,
de las hogueras en los campos, del poder de los robles que se estiran hacia el cielo y hacia el fondo de la tierra en un abrazo de vida.

En el rincón, en las sombras, la niña desamparada
observa. El padre ve en sus ojos una compasión
que se confunde. Oculta la lección para siempre.

Lección 3: La destrucción

Cada día viene a ver si necesita algo.
Comparte cuentos y bromas
y ella, en su lugar,
dobla su manta y murmulla
una oración misteriosa
que le lleva, finalmente, la atención
demasiado tarde de su querido.
Prefieren cuando estás atrasada.

Ceacht 3: An Scrios

Tagann sé chuile lá le fáil amach cad tá uaithi.
Roinneann sé scéalta is greann agus ansin
fuineann sí a pluid le monabhar
ar nós paidir rúnda a mheallann chuici
faoi dheireadh, ródhéanach, aird óna grá geal.

Is fearr leo nuair atá tú mallinteannach. 

 

ródhéanach.

8. Me hablan las lunas

Ag smaoineamh ar Uisneach

Me hablan las lunas

saun: la luna de los ancestros, con la voz del viento triste

duan: la luna del sol oscuro, de su casa de los muertos

fauiloc: la luna del hambre, de ser mi amiga

garaun: la luna del primer movimiento de la vida, de placer inesperado

mart: la luna de semillas, del trabajo de crear

guiblan: la luna del zorro, de cambios, del engaño

queitan: la luna de hogueras y flores, de juegos inocentes

ogmios: la luna de la juventud, de la lengua de las hadas

iucar: la luna de las llaves,  de fiestas en el bosque

lunasa: la luna del caballo,   de cómo bailar

sultar: la luna de la cosecha, de la poesía

daur: la luna del ciervo, en suspiros

Me hablan las lunas.

Mi obligo cortado, mi omphalos, mi origen escrito

en una piedra en una colina abandonada gime. Por la noche escucho su canción.