Roundabouts

Author's note:  part of the fun in traveling is learning the language.  I have provided an Irish to Yankee vocabulary list at the end - read it first, or last, or not at all.  Sláinte!


Roundabouts

Your heart needs to be stout
to approach the roundabout.

Queue up behind a battered lorry,
move in its wake to lessen the worry.

First ‘give way’
then you pray.

Add more petrol to the game
be the Celtic Tiger untame!

Mind the mad Irish who will pass
driving like they’re late to mass.

You’ll miss the turn no doubt
trying to find your ‘way out’.

Stay focused, don’t come undone
as you translate ancient tongue.

Keep circling the track,
never make eye contact.

With your exit strategy figured,
make a quick bolt from the herd.

Then you’re off to the country for more memory making
on tiny roads where only the mad think of ‘overtaking’.

Speeding Paddy Wagons aplenty on your bum,
old gents biking, wandering sheep add to the fun

of flying along inches from stone walls,
hoping to not wee in your smalls.

When you reach Killaballydunhoo,
or wherever ‘tis you’re heading to

there’ll be more roundabouts to entertain
if your good humor can handle the strain.

There’ll be no open parking near your hotel stay,
so prepare to park precariously along the quay.

Take part of the pavement with your left tyre,
pull in the side view mirrors on your car hire.

Now remember to visit ‘pay and park’,
and give thanks not to travel after dark.



***********************
VOCAB:
car hire – rental car, Celtic Tiger - Ireland with it's booming economy, bum – backside, give way – yield, lorry – truck (ie. you’ll see signs ‘ lorries entering carriageway’), mad – crazy, overtaking- to pass (funny to read ‘No Overtaking’ made me think of raiding celtic tribes), pavement – sidewalk, ‘pay and park’ – self-ticketing parking station, petrol – gas, quay – waterside street, queue up – line up, roundabout – traffic circle with no lights, sláinte - cheers or to your health, smalls – underwear, tyre – tire, way out – exit

also, ancient tongue –  my word for Gaelic (the other official language in Ireland - on the West Coast they seem to neglect the English translation on their signage) 

Note: this poem is part of a collection, to read more please see:  "Ireland "  E: Barúlacha Fileata~poetic observations~poems inspired by my trip to my ancestoral home   Sláinte!


For fun insights on US road signage, see my friend's commentary at: "Invalid Item"  :