25 SEPTEMBER 1953, Page 13

Turnabout

" Come here," said Turnbull, " and see the sorrow In the horse's eyes, If you had his big hooves under you there'd be sorrow In your eyes too."

And 'twas clear that he well understood the sorrow In the horse's eyes— Had considered it until he had plumbed the very marrow Of the horse's mind.

I gave a look at the horse to see the sorrow Standing up in his eyes, I saw Turnbull's eyes tracking me like an arrow From the horse's skull.

I gave Turnbull a look that was mean and narrow And I saw in his head Those over-big eyes that were dumb with sorrow— The horse's eyes.

Translated by David Marcus from the Irish of Sean O'Riordain.