Irish-Géibheann-Codarsnacht/Big Q

Cinnte, tugtar léiriú dúinn sa dán Géibheann ar an gcodarsnacht idir dhá thréimhse éagsúla i saol an ainmhí.

Certainly, we are given an illustration in the poem Géibheann on the contrast between two different periods in the life of the animal.

Tá codarsnacht idir saoirse agus daoirse agus idir na mothúcháin sa dán.

There is a contrast between freedom and slavery and between emotions in the poem.

Tá dhá leath sa dán Géibheann a leiríonn dhá thréimhse éagsúla den saol an ainmhí.

There are two halves in the poem Géibheann which show two different periods of the animal's life.

Sa chéad leath den dán seo, samhlaíonn an file í féin mar leon a chónaigh go saor agus go sona uair amháin ina thimpeallacht ná dúrtha sna tíortha teo.

In the first half of this poem, the poet imagines herself as a lion that once lived freely and happily in its natural environment in hot countries.

Bhí an leon bródúil as a chuid áilleachta agus a chuid cumachta féin agus deir sé linn go gcuireadh sé ‘crainnte na coille’ ag crith agus é ag búiril.

The lion was proud of his own beauty and strength and he tells us that he would make 'the trees of the forest' tremble as he roared.

Ainmhí fiáin a bhí ann ansin agus bhí saoirse agus neámhspleáchas dá chuid féin aige.

He was a wild animal and had his own freedom and independence.

Sa dara leath den dán, áfach, feictear dúinn tréimhse eile agus an leon céanna i ngéibheann agus faoi smacht sa zú ‘ach anois/luím síos’.

In the second half of the poem, however, we see another period and the same lion is in captivity and under control in the zoo 'but now/I lie down'.

Tá spiorad agus misneach an leoin caillte anois agus luíonn sé síos ag breathnú amach trí shúil amháin ar an gcrann amháin atá le fieceáil dó óna phríosún sa zú.

The lion's spirit and courage are now lost and he lies down looking out through one eye at the only tree that is found for him from his prison in the zoo.

Is dócha nach bhfuil an fuinneamh aige an dara súil a oscailt do na ‘céadta daoine’ a thagann chuig an zú gach aon lá.

He probably doesn't have the energy to open a second eye for the 'hundreds of people' who come to the zoo every single day.

Tá codarsnacht mhór le feiceáil idir an fuinneamh sin agus an tuirse atá air nuair atá sé i ngéibheann, agus an easpa suime atá aige sa saol.

There is a great contrast between that energy and the fatigue he has when he is in captivity, and his lack of interest in life.

In ionad rith timpeall, caitheann sé na laethanta ina luí, súil amháin oscailte aige

Instead of running around, he spends his days lying down, with one eye open

Tá éadóchas an fhile le sonrú sa dara leath den dán nuaiir a deir sí go ndéanfadh na cuairteoirí sin rud ar bith ach an rud is mó a theastaíonn ón ainmhí – a shaoirse a thabhairt dó.

The poet's desperation can be seen in the second half of the poem when she says that those visitors would do anything but what the animal wants most - to give it back its freedom.

Tuigimid ón meafar cumhachtach seo go bhfuil an file ag caint linn faoin easpa saoirse a bhraitheann sí a bheith aici ina saol féin.

We understand from this powerful metaphor that the poet is talking about the lack of freedom she feels she has in her own life.

Is dócha go mothaíonn sí go bhfuil sí faoi smacht nó i ngéibheann sa saol.

She probably feels controlled or trapped in life.

Creidtear go forleathan, áfach,go bhfuil an file ag tagairt dá tinneas féin (ailse) agus gur mhothaigh sí ar nós ainmhí a bheadh i ngéibheann toisc go raibh an galar uafásach sin ag fáil greama uirthi agus go raibh sí ag cailleadh a cuid cumhachta.

However, it is widely believed that the poet is referring to her own illness (cancer) and that she felt like an animal in captivity because that terrible disease was taking hold of her and she was losing her power.