for Lin van Hek

Lin née Whitehead fair-headed of all
a mirrorpool at foot of the waterfall
these the Old English bard might call
fine flax or flowering Linden tree
the drunken Scot staggering see
or Eibhleann when French uprooted to Éirinn
by Norman invaders settling therein
the pleasant and beautiful radiant fair Lin
the steepest ravine the precipice
the black pool as in Dublin
some Gaels would insist
but all entwined fire
there by her love lit
breithlá sona duit. *

* irish Gaelic for Happy Birthday.

pronunciations

breithlá sona duit (BREH-huh SON-uh gwit)
Eibhleann (AVE-linn)
Éirinn (AYR-ihn)
Gaels (gales)