Cailin le beartáin crochta ar gach méar aici,
Chonac ar shráideanna na cathrach aréir,
An cóta, an folt dubh is na beola a bhí daite,
Lasiar 'na súile is an gáire ar a béal.

Is eol dom an gleann as a dtáinig an cailin,
Aithne agam uírthi ó bhí sí 'na naí,
Cuimhim liom cosnachta í, óg agus crosta í,
Páiste gealgháireach mo shean-pháirtí.

Níl sí sa chathair ach scaitheamh beag gairid,
Ach féach ar an athrú a tháinig gan mhoill,
Chuala sí ceolta is plódadh na slóite,
Is tháinig an fiabhras ar a dtugtar B'l' Áth' Cliath.

Rachaidh sí abhaile um Nollaig go spleodrach,
Cuirfidh éad ar na cailíní d'fhag sí 'na diaidh,
N'fheadar a' gcuimhneoidh sí ar an gcéad uair a phógas í,
Oíche na Nollag ag binn bhán an tí.

The Christmas I Was Eighteen
trans., Muiris Ó Ríordáin

I know her name and the place that she came from,
The world of her childhood was my world too,
I remember the barefooted, mischievous tomboy,
And she laughed, I remember, the greyest day through.

I'd heard that she'd come to the city last summer.
Look at the changes the city has wrought:
She hears all its music, responds to its rhythms,
The fever exultant has gladly been caught.

She will go home resplendent this Christmas,
Trailing the envy her coming has brought.
I wonder if she will remember I kissed her
For the first time that Christmas by the white gable wall.