Géibheann - Codarsnacht

There is a lot of contrast in this poem from start to finish

Tá an-chuid codarsnachta sa dán seo le feiceáil ó thús go deireadh

First of all I see contrast in the theme of the poem, between freedom and slavery.

Ar an gcéad dul síos feicim codarsnacht i dtéama an dáin, idir shaoirse agus daoirse

The animal was once free in his natural home, he is happy, proud and lively

Bhíodh an t-ainmhí saor uair ina ghnáthóg nádúrtha, é lán sásta, broidiúil, uaibhreach agus lán le beocht

But was taken as prisoner in the zoo, and left depressed, sad, undignified and emaciated

Ach cuireadh i gcás é mar phríosúnach sa zú agus fágtar é dubhach brónach, gan dínit, agus é lagmhisneach

The poet creates a simple and effective contrast between the description of the animal's position in the first half and the second half of the poem

Cruthaíonn an file codarsnacht éifeachtach shimplí idir an cur síos ar shuíomh an ainmhí sa chéad leath agus sa dara leath den dán

When we first see the animal, he remembers the time when he used to have his freedom, he was completely in control of his own life, he was powerful and wild

Nuair a fheicimid an t-ainmhí ar dtús, cuimhníonn sé ar an am nuair a bhíodh a shaoirse aige, é go buile is go hiomlán i gceannas ar a shaol féin, é cumhachtach agus fiáin

He scared the other animals when he let out a roar, and he was king of the tropics

Scanraíodh sé na hainmhithe eile nuair a ligeadh sé béic as, agus é ina rí ar na teochreasa.

But then his freedom was taken away

Ach ansin baineadh a shaoirse de

He was taken from his native environment and placed in a zoo, an unnatural habitat

Tógadh é as a thimpeallacht dhúchasach agus cuireadh i zú é, i ngnáthóg mhínádurtha

Instead of power and nobility, we feel frustration and despair in his life as he is trapped behind the iron bars

Seachas chumhacht agus uaisleacht, braithimid frustrachas agus éadóchas ag baint lena shaol agus é teanntaithe taobh thiar de na barraí iarainn

The lack of power is clearly bothering him

Is léir go bhfuil an easpa cumhachta ag cur as dó

His spirit is broken with the lack of freedom

Tá a spiorad briste leis an easpa saoirse