EVERY NIGHT I SEND YOU FLOWERS

TANKA BY GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK
IN RESPONSE TO THE ART OF ODILON REDON
About Gabriel Rosenstock

Gabriel Rosenstock is a bilingual poet, tankaist, haikuist, novelist, playwright, short storywriter, essayist and translator. He lives in Ireland.
ann bl tha flower beloved mo sh ile NIGHT seo
TANKA BY GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK
IN RESPONSE TO THE ART OF ODILON REDON
About Gabriel Rosenstock

Gabriel Rosenstock is a bilingual poet, tankaist, haikuist, novelist, playwright, short storywriter, essayist and translator. He lives in Ireland.
ann bl tha flower beloved mo sh ile NIGHT seo
EVERY NIGHT 
I SEND YOU FLOWERS
TANKA
GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK
IN RESPONSE TO THE ART OF ODILON REDON
Gabriel Rosenstock is a bilingual poet, tankaist, 
novelist, haikuist, short story writer, playwright, 
essayist and translator.
Blog | Books | Website
Published in association with:
Cross-Cultural Communications
239 Wynsum Avenue Merrick, NY 11566-4725/USA
Tel: 516/868-5635 Fax: 516/379-1901
Email: cccpoetry@aol.com
Is mian leis an údar buíochas a ghabháil leis an 
gComhairle Ealaíon as Sparánacht
a chur ar fáil dó a chuirfidh ar a chumas tanka Gaeilge a 
chleachtadh agus a shaothrú.
The author gratefully acknowledges receipt of an Arts 
Council bursary to enable him to pursue
ongoing experiments in Irish-language tanka.
3
EVERY NIGHT I SEND YOU 
FLOWERS
TANKA
GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK
IN RESPONSE TO THE ART OF ODILON REDON
5
I
seans nach eol duit
gur uaimse a tháinig
blátha fiáine seo na hoíche
 
níl fhios agam féin é
 
seans gur uaitse a tháinig – domsa
perhaps You do not know
they came from me
wild flowers of the night
 
i do not know myself
 
perhaps they came from You – for me
7
II
siúil leis an mBúda
i measc na mbláth
oidí dósan is dúinne
 
a gcumhracht is a ndath
 
milis a meath gach nóiméad
walk with the Buddha
among flowers
his teachers and ours
 
their perfume and their hues
 
moments of sweet decay
9
III
is labhair an abhainn
i nguth nár chualamar
leis na cianta
 
is foirmíodh gach briathar
 
go domhain im’ chroí féin
and the river spoke
in a tongue we have not heard
in over a thousand years
 
each word formed
 
in the depths of my own heart
11
IV
cá ngabham anois
an domhan ar bharr lasrach
á leá os ár gcomhair
 
san fholús sin
 
ba chliabhán dúinn fadó
where is there left to go
a world  in flames
see, it fades before our eyes
 
melts into the nothingness
 
that cradled our beginning
13
V
bhí an uile ní
i súil mo ghrása
ó thús ama
 
fíorghrá ag bláthú
 
leis na cianta gan fhios dúinn
in my beloved’s eye
all of creation
since the beginning of time
 
love takes aeons
 
to blossom and be known
15
VI
seolaim mo thaibhrimh chugat
is taibhrimh faoi thaibhrimh
grianghraif de m’aigne
 
á réaladh go mall
 
id’ thaibhrimhse go léir
i send You dreams
dreams about dreams
photographs of my mind
 
slowly developing
 
in Your endless dreams
17
VII
níor fhágamar riamh gairdín  Dé
istigh ionainn atá
ceansaigh beach mhallaithe
 
na smaointe áiféiseacha
 
is féach, a ghrá –  tá sé ann
we never left god’s garden
it lies within us
still the frantic bee
 
of maddening thought
 
and find it there, beloved
19
VIII
má fhágaim inniu nó amárach
seal gairid a bheidh ann
chun aer neimhe a análú
	
fillfead	arís	is	arís	eile
 
chun tú a adhradh
if i leave today or tomorrow
it will be but for a short while
to breathe the air of heaven
 
returning again
 
 and again to adore You
21
IX
is tú dúchas
na mbláthanna go léir
saol na rún
 
ag dúiseacht ionam
 
peiteal ar pheiteal ar pheiteal
You are
what every flower is inside
You are the awakening
 
of my  secret life
 
petal by petal by petal
23
X
uaireanta cuimhníonn an cholainn
uirthi féin
is taisceann an chuimhne sin
 
lig di mhuise
 
ní mhairfidh an chuimhne i bhfad
sometimes the body remembers
it is flesh after all
and holds on to that memory
 
let it be awhile
 
it will forget all distractions
25
XI
nochtraí a chuala mé
i gcríochaibh i gcéin
d’aithníos na nótaí ann
 
cá hionadh san, a chuid
 
cumadh gach nóta duitse
a nocturne once heard
in a distant land
the notes were familiar
 
no wonder, beloved
 
each note was written for You
27
XII
seolaim ar an ngaoth iad
mo chuid féileacán – iniúchóirí -
blátha atá foirfe
 
ní duitse iad, a chumann
 
músclaíonn mion-locht atrua ionat
i send them out on the wind
butterfly inspectors
flowers that are perfect
 
are not for You: one tiny flaw 
 
awakens Your compassion
29
XIII
uaireanta ní bhíonn ionam
ach taise gan bhrí
nach daonna ar fad é
 
cuimhne ar smaointe faoi bhláth
 
a roinneas leatsa tráth, a chuid
sometimes i ’m nothing
but a wraith
something not quite human
 
a memory of flowering thoughts
 
once shared with You
31
XIV
nuair a phiocaimse blátha dhuit
bíonn nóiníní i gcónaí ann
a ghrian bheag lonrach
 
soilsigh ár laethanta
 
go brách na breithe
when i pick flowers for You
there are always daisies among them
tiny brilliant suns
 
illuminate our days
 
forever and ever
33
XV
táim im’ chlogaire
ar do shon
buaileann na cloig de ló is d’oíche
 
a shearc, an cur isteach ort é
 
nílim in ann stopadh
i have become
a bell ringer for You
day and night the bell tolls
 
does it keep You from sleep
 
i cannot, will not, cease
35
XVI
nochtann blátha
is léiriú ar d’anam iad
tá dream ann nach bhfeiceann iad
 
nach eol dóibh faoina gcumhracht
 
conas san in ainm Chroim
flowers appear
a manifestation of Your soul
some folks do not even see them
 
or know of their scent
 
how on earth can this be
37
XVII
tá ár mbád ullamh
bád an fholúis
ní mór dúinn imeacht anois
 
cén mhoill a bheadh orainn
 
féach, tá an ghealach réidh
our boat is ready
the boat of emptiness 
we must go now
 
why wait, beloved
 
see, the moon awaits us
39
XVIII
mo shúile dúnta
chonac thú
is do shúilese dúnta
 
is aon sinn sa ríocht sin
 
radharc againn ar a chéile de shíor
with eyes closed
i have seen You
You, with eyes closed
 
we are one in that realm
 
and see each other night and day
41
XIX
seo linn ag siúl tríd an mbaile seo
ní fheicfear sinn
ní chloisfear sinn
 
má chloisfear
 
cé a thuigfeadh ár ngrá neamhshaolta 
come, let’s walk through this village
no one will see us
no one will hear us
 
and if they do
 
who can make sense of unearthly love
43
XX
gluaiseann an uile ní sa ghrá
as ar cruthaíodh iad
ar a bhfillfidh siad
 
mura mbeadh sé amhlaidh
 
chuirfeadh blátha inár gcoinne
all things move in love
are created out of love
return to love
 
if it were not so
 
flowers would revolt against us
45
XXI
cad iad do mhianta
do chuid riachtanas
cad d’fhéadfainn a thabhairt duit
 
nár thug éinne cheana dhuit
 
néal ag taisteal
tell me Your desires
Your needs
what can i give You
 
that no man has ever given You before
 
a passing cloud
47
XXII
bhís ar strae
i ndán ón meánaois
tháinig mé i gcabhair ort
 
is mian leat dul ar ais ann
 
ná téir ann leat féin
You were lost
in a medieval poem
i rescued You
 
now You wish to return
 
do not venture there alone
49
XXIII
seolaim blátha chugat gach oíche
ina bhféileacáin chumhra
ar snámh faoi ghealach imníoch
 
is ligeann a scíth
 
ar do philiúr bán
every night i send You flowers
scented butterflies
floating under an anxious moon
 
until they rest
 
 on Your pale pillow
51
XXIV
a shearc
roinnim mo bhuairt
leis an gcrann
 
tosnaíonn na duilleoga ag titim
 
ceann ar cheann
beloved
to the tree
i whisper my sorrow
 
one by one, look
 
leaves begin to tumble
53
XXV
t’rom do lámh
tá aigéin á lorg agam
caithfidh siad bheith liath
 
agus fuar
 
dár ndeora goirte araon
take my hand
i’m in search of oceans
they must be grey
 
and cold
 
for all our burning tears
55
XXVI
dúnaimse mo shúile
chun tú a fheiscint
féach, taoi ann i gcónaí
 
osclaím mo shúile
 
tá tú i ngach áit faoin spéir
i close my eyes
to see You
look, You are always there
 
i open my eyes
 
You are everywhere under the sun
57
XXVII
greanadh as tost thú
is leáigh arís i dtost
cá bhfuilir anois
 
i measc chama an ime
 
is sailchuacha go brách
from silence You were carved
and melted into silence
where are You now
 
among buttercups
 
and primroses forever
59
XXVIII
tá do bheathaisnéis scríofa agam
gan bhriathra
gan phoncaíocht
 
ó thús go deireadh
 
solas íon sin uile
i have written Your biography
without words
or punctuation
 
from start to finish
 
nothing but pure light
61
XXIX
im’ bhrionglóidí
seo chugam as réaltbhuíonta thú
crithloinnir ríméadach
 
dá bhféadfainn frídín díot
 
a phéinteáil anocht
You visit me in dreams
emerging from constellations
shimmering in ecstasy
 
if only i could paint
 
a fraction of You tonight
63
XXX
ná bíodh eagla ort roimh an gcamhaoir
ní faic é
níl ann ach sinn féin
 
Tusa ionamsa
 
mise Ionatsa, a shearc
fear not the dawn
for it is nothing
but ourselves
 
You in me
 
i in You, beloved
65
XXXI
nuair a ghlaonn tú orm
tagaimse chugat
ní mar scáil
 
ach mar dhuine
 
atá saor ó gach scáil
when You call to me
i come to You
not as a shadow
 
but as someone
 
free of all shadows
67
XXXII
bíodh sé seo agat mar samatha*
an tsúil ag imeacht
ó pheiteal go peiteal
 
go stadann fá dheoidh
 
i gcroílár an fhlóis
let this then be Your samatha*
slowly the gaze revolves
from petal to petal
 
then comes to a stop
 
in the flower’s core
*meditative quiescence in order to gain abilities that are used 
to assist others
69
XXXIII
go mbronna an samatha seo agat
is tú faoi gheasa
ag imlínte duilleoige
 
síocháin ort
 
ríméad gan teorainn
may Your samatha
Your absorption
in the contours of a leaf
 
bring You peace
 
and utter joy
71
XXXIV
bíodh an uile ní ina samatha dhuit
an féileacán giongach fiú
glacann a scíth
 
go han-chiúin ann féin
 
filleann a sciatháin
let all things be Your samatha
for the restless butterfly too
comes to rest
 
ever so quietly in itself
 
folding its wings
73
XXXV
dá n-athródh draoi
nó asarlaí mé
im’ bhrúid, a stór . . .
 
táimid gafa lastall de shubstaint
 
lastall d’fhoirm, lastall dínn féin
even if a druid
or wizard should change me
into something unspeakable, beloved . . .
 
we’ve gone beyond substance
 
beyond form, beyond ourselves
75
XXXVI
i ngairdín
aigne Chuang-tzú
lorgaíomar a chéile
 
a shearc, an tAm i Láthair
 
ag eiteallaigh anois is choíche
in the garden 
of Chuang-tzu’s mind
we looked for one another
 
beloved, the fluttering
 
of the Now as always
77
XXXVII
lig dom breathnú
inár ndiaidh tríotsa
is amach romhainn
 
is sa mhóimint seo
 
is tusa ann, a shearc
let me look with You
into the past
into the future
 
into this moment
 
that is You, beloved
79
XXXVIII
beannacht
na mbláth mbuan ort
de ló is d’oíche
 
do loinnirse
 
ina scáil orthu i gcónaí
the blessing of perennial flowers
be upon You
night and day
 
Your radiance
 
always mirroring theirs
81
XXXIX
tá an cuardach thart
dod’ lorg a bhíos le fada
is tuigim anois
 
go rímhaith an scéal
 
bhíse sa tóir ormsa
the search is over
all along i ’ve looked for You
and now i know
 
and know for sure
 
You’ve been looking for me
83
XL
tá d’ainm canta agam
ar mhíle sráid,
chugainn an trúbadóir, ar siad
 
is teitheann siad
 
dealg sa chroí gach amhrán grá
I ’ve sung Your name
in a thousand streets
the troubadour is here! they cry
 
and hide away
 
every song a thorn in the heart
85
XLI
cén fhaid a thógann sé
ar sholas na gealaí
an domhan a bhaint amach
 
ar bhriathra, a chuid,
 
do chroíse a bhaint amach
how long does it take
for moonlight
to reach the earth
 
for words, beloved,
 
to reach Your heart
87
XLII
tá mo chroí goidte ag mo rún geal
is curtha i bhfolach aici ar an sliabh
cá bhfuil mo chroí
 
crónán na gaoithe
 
éamh an philibín
my love has stolen my heart
and hidden it on the moors
where is my heart
 
soughing wind
 
cry of peewit
89
XLIII
tagadh – is imíodh – an t-am atá thart
an t-am atá le teacht
an t-am i láthair
 
beadsa farat
 
go Lá an Luain
let the past come – and go
the future come – and go
the present come – and go
 
i am with You
 
until the crack of doom
91
XLIV
a shearc
roinnim leis an gcrann
mo ríméad
 
nochtann bláthanna
 
i bhfaiteadh na súl
beloved
to the tree
I whisper my joy
 
one by one
 
blossoms appear
93
XLV
cén fhaid sa tóir ar a chéile sinn
i ngach aeráid
cnagann beach fhómhair 
 
in aghaidh na fuinneoige
 
bhfuil an geimhreadh chugainn
how long have we searched for one another
in how many climes
an autumn bee thumps
 
against the window
 
is winter near
95
XLVI
tógfad uisceadán duit
roghnóimid na héisc sin
atá ag teacht led’ bhrionglóidí
 
féach orthu fad agus is mian leat
 
éisc nach gcodlóidh choíche
let’s build  an aquarium
together we’ll choose fish
best suited to Your dreams
 
look as long as You like
 
fish that never sleep
97
XLVII
bíodh sé ann
nó ná bíodh
pé rud a bhí ann
 
ná bacaimis le nithe
 
is léir nó nach léir don aigne
it may have been there
it may not have been
whatever it was
 
why bother with things
 
of the mind seen and unseen
99
XLVIII
ceangail do chuid gruaige, a shearc
ceangail mise chomh maith
ceangail chomh foirfe sin mé
 
nach sleamhnóinn go deo
 
as an néal seo
bind Your hair, beloved
bind me while You are at it
bind me perfectly
 
that i may never escape
 
this glorious dream
101
XLIX
blátha a chuirim chugat
oíche i ndiaidh oíche
gealann siad an saol
 
fiafraíonn an chruinne di féin
 
cathain a bhí dorchadas ann
flowers i send You
night after night
to illuminate the world
 
the universe wonders
 
when last have we seen the dark