I grew up in rural Ireland, a country of green bog-land and echoes of a dying language. When I read the work of Wang Wei, I was interested in the beautiful words despite centuries of translation and evolution. I was intrigued by the poem, ‘Deer Park’; the poem was lost and modern translations are based on a copy produced 900 years after the original. I was intrigued by the imagery of nature hidden among the lines, and I was immediately filled with nostalgia. It was at this moment I knew I wanted to reproduce this beguiling piece in a language familiar to me; Irish Gaelic – the language of home.

To produce this translation, I first read several English translations of Wang Wei’s poem. I used them to create my own English version, and then translated it into Irish. It was difficult to find the right words, and sometimes I had to change my English version so it could be understood better in Irish.

Translating a piece of literature into another language was a new experience for me, and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I am pleased with the product, and proud to share it. For me, Wang Wei’s poem represents the innate qualities of my country; and the sunlight symbolises the return of a lost language into a culture that was repressed. This poem is a symbol of hope, and I am honoured to present it to my people.