An Irish Airman Foresees His Death
I know that I shall meet my fate
somewhere among the clouds above;
Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I guard I do not love;
My country is Kiltartan Cross,
my countrymen Kiltartan’s poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
or leave them happier than before.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
nor public man, nor cheering crowds.
A lonely impulse of delight,
drove to this tumult in the clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
the years to come seemed waste of breath,
a waste of breath the years behind.
In balance with this life, this death.
- fate: μοίρα, πεπρωμένο,
- among: ανάμεσα,
- guard: φυλάω, υπερασπίζομαι,
- hate: μισώ,
- Kiltartan Cross: μέρος στην κεντρική Ιρλανδία,
- likely: πιθανό,
- countrymen: συμπατριώτες,
- leave: αφήνω,
- law: νόμος,
- duty: καθήκον,
- bade: αόριστος του bid: με έκανε,
- lonely: μοναχικός,
- impulse: παρόρμηση,
- delight: απόλαυση,
- drove: αόριστος του drive: οδηγώ,
- tumult: σάλος, αναταραχή,
- seem: φαίνεται,
- brought: αόριστος του bring: φέρνω,
- waste: απώλεια,
- breath: αναπνοή,
- balance: ισορροπώ, ισορροπία,
- behind: πίσω
