Translated/reinterpreted by Dáithí Bowen
I am Raftery the poet
Full of love and hope
With eyes never to see light again.
Quiet, without pain.
Looking back on my journey,
with the light of my heart
weary and tired,
so far from the start.
Look at me now,
with my back to the wall.
Playing music
to pockets with no money at all.
Original Irish:
Mise Raifteirí, an file,
lán dóchais is grá
le súile gan solas,
ciúineas gan crá
Dul siar ar m’aistear,
le solas mo chroí
Fann agus tuirseach,
go deireadh mo shlí
Féach anois mé
mo dhroim le balla,
Ag seinm ceoil
do phocaí folamh
