where you danced
a poem
(Poet's note: this is a loose English translation of my poem in Irish 'áit ar rince tú' published on Saturday March 14th 2026. Modern Irish is becoming more distinct from the older language, and translation is becoming difficult without strong familiarity or native learning. This is exactly the intent of the Irish language movement, to create distinction for our culture. As an American born I am like an archeologist. Even my own translation falls far short. The two words I used for dance 'rince' and 'damhsa' are not exactly synonyms, but they play against each other in the musical nature of the Irish language. 'áit' which I am sure Google will translate as 'where' or 'place' really means strange place, or uncanny valley. I say this to give you the understanding and value of the mystery of languages and translation. The very beautiful difference between us all.)
dancing on the hill
where we danced before
I thought that you loved me
but in the end
all you wanted to do
was dance
in the mist beyond the hill
as the road rolls to the gentle shore
where all our people left
where on the other side of the sea
I live a lost life
I think often of that dance
my soul runs counter to its place
it holds onto nothing but the air I breathe
and thinks only of itself in a land that lives
evergreen in the dreams of the scattered Irish
but that old saying that God invented beer
so that the Irish would not rule the world
instead He invented heartbreak and poetry
like David we are cursed
to sing songs to the past
where you danced
where you danced
