On the Death of the Beloved By John O’Donoghue Though we need to weep your loss, You dwell in that safe place in our hearts, Where no storm or night or pain can reach you. Your love was like the dawn Brightening over our lives, Awakening beneath the dark A further adventure of colour. The sound of your voice Found for us A new music That brightened everything. Whatever you enfolded in your gaze Quickened in the joy of its being; You placed smiles like flowers On the altar of the heart. Your mind always sparkled With wonder at things. Though your days here were brief, Your spirit was alive, awake, complete. We look towards each other no longer From the old distance of our names; Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath, As close to us as we are to ourselves. Though we cannot see you with outward eyes, We know our soul’s gaze is upon your face, Smiling back at us from within everything To which we bring our best refinement. Let us not look for you only in memory, Where we would grow lonely without you. You would want us to find you in presence, Beside us when beauty brightens, When kindness glows And music echoes eternal tones. When orchids brighten the earth, Darkest winter has turned to spring; May this dark grief flower with hope In every heart that loves you. May you continue to inspire us: To enter each day with generous heart. To serve the call of courage and love Until we see your beautiful face again In that land where there is no more separation, Where all tears will be wiped from our mind, And where we will never lose you again.

Ar bhás an ionúin De réir John O'Donoghue   Cé gur gá dúinn do chaillteanas a chailleadh, Cónaíonn tú san áit shábháilte sin inár gcroí, Nuair nach féidir le stoirm nó oíche nó pian teacht ort. Bhí do ghrá cosúil le tús an lae Ag láidriú thar ár saol, Dúiseacht faoin dorchadas Eachtra eile datha. Fuaim do ghuth Aimsíodh dúinn Ceol nua Chuir sin go mór le gach rud. Cibé rud a chuir tú faoi do shúil Thapaigh sé an-áthas ar a bheith; Chuir tú aoibh gháire cosúil le bláthanna Ar altóir an chroí. Bhraith d’intinn i gcónaí Le ionadh ar rudaí. Cé go raibh do laethanta anseo gearr, Bhí do spiorad beo, dúiseacht, iomlán. Féachaimid ar a chéile a thuilleadh Ó shean-achar ár n-ainmneacha; Anois tá tú i do chónaí taobh istigh de rithim anála, Chomh gar dúinn agus muid féin. Cé nach féidir linn tú a fheiceáil le súile amach, Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil súil ár n-anam ar d'aghaidh, Smiling ar ais chugainn ó gach rud Tugaimid an mionchoigeartú is fearr dúinn. Ní féidir linn tú a lorg ach i gcuimhne, I gcás ina mbeimis ag fás uaigneach gan tú. Ba mhaith leat go bhfaighidh tú tú i láthair, In aice linn nuair a bhriseann áilleacht, Nuair a thagann an cineáltas chun solais Agus macallaíonn ceol toin síoraí. Nuair a ghreamaíonn na magairlíní an domhan, Tá an geimhreadh is dorcha tagtha go dtí an t-earrach; Go bláthóidh an bláth dorcha seo le dóchas I ngach croí a thaitníonn leat. Go bhféadfá leanúint orainn ag spreagadh:   Chun dul isteach gach lá le croí flaithiúil.Chun freastal ar ghlaoch misneach agus grá Go dtí go bhfeicimid do aghaidh álainn arís Sa talamh sin nach bhfuil níos mó deighilte ann, Nuair a chuirfear na deora go léir as ár n-intinn, Agus nuair nach gcaillfimid tú arís.