Song for a Dark Girl

Langston Hughes

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Original	Irish version of poem by Gabriel Rosenstock
SONG FOR A DARK GIRL	DUAN DON CHAILÍN CRÓN

Way Down South in Dixie	Ó dheas ó dheas in Dixie
(Break the heart of me)	(Briseann sé mo chroí)
They hung my black young lover	Crochadh mo leannán dorcha
To a cross roads tree.	Ag Crosaire an Chrainn.

Way Down South in Dixie	Ó dheas ó dheas in Dixie
(Bruised body high in air)	(Corp basctha sa ghaoth)
I asked the white Lord Jesus	D’fhiafraíos-sa de gheal-Íosa
What was the use of prayer.	‘An fiú an phaidir bhaoth?’

Way Down South in Dixie	Ó dheas ó dheas in Dixie
(Break the heart of me)	(Briseann sé mo chroí)
Love is a naked shadow	An grá ina scáil tarnocht
On a gnarled and naked tree.	Ar lomaghéag an chama-chrainn.

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