After his return from Japan, Rabindranath Tagore, the first Asian Nobel Laureate, brought out English versions of his own Bengali originals, a book not widely known in the West: Stray Birds (1916). These consist of poetic aphorisms, possibly influenced by haiku, ranging in mood from joyous to contemplative, playful and innocent, profound and ecstatic.
Ireland's leading translator, Gabriel Rosenstock, has produced exquisite Irish-language versions to match Tagore's timeless works, earthy yet transcendent, in this special bilingual edition to mark the 150th anniversary of the great Bengali poet.
Illustrated by renowned artist Ian Joyce.
"[Rosenstock] employs the poetic resources of all ages and languages to describe the central dramas of the soul with beauty, humour and precision."
Gwyneth Lewis
Gabriel Rosenstock is the author/translator of over 150 books, including 13 volumes of poetry and a volume of haiku, mostly in Irish (Gaelic). A member of Aosdána, he has given readings in Europe, South, Central and North America, India, Australia, Japan and has been published in various leading international journals. His Selected Poems appeared in 2005 and the bilingual volume Bliain an Bhandé / Year of the Goddess came out in 2007 (Dedalus). Uttering Her Name (Salmon, 2009) is his debut volume of poems in English.
Ireland's leading translator, Gabriel Rosenstock, has produced exquisite Irish-language versions to match Tagore's timeless works, earthy yet transcendent, in this special bilingual edition to mark the 150th anniversary of the great Bengali poet.
Illustrated by renowned artist Ian Joyce.
"[Rosenstock] employs the poetic resources of all ages and languages to describe the central dramas of the soul with beauty, humour and precision."
Gwyneth Lewis
Gabriel Rosenstock is the author/translator of over 150 books, including 13 volumes of poetry and a volume of haiku, mostly in Irish (Gaelic). A member of Aosdána, he has given readings in Europe, South, Central and North America, India, Australia, Japan and has been published in various leading international journals. His Selected Poems appeared in 2005 and the bilingual volume Bliain an Bhandé / Year of the Goddess came out in 2007 (Dedalus). Uttering Her Name (Salmon, 2009) is his debut volume of poems in English.