A sheanbhean
"This rhyme is recited by two children facing each other, one being the old lady, the other being the child who asked her the question." -Franc
A sheanbhean
Granny, Granny
Rhyme
Rhyme
(Irish Gaelic)
(English)
"A sheanbhean, a sheanbhean,
A sheanbhean, a sheanbhean,
A sheanbhean, a sheanbhean,
An ólfá té?"
"D'ólfainn", arsa an tseanbhean,
"Dá mbeadh siúcra agus bainne ann.
D'ólfainn lán an channa de,
Dá bhfaighinn uait é."
"Granny, granny,
Granny, granny,
Granny, granny,
Would you drink tea?"
"I'd drink some", the old lady said,
"If there were sugar and milk in it.
I'd drink the whole can,
If I got it from you."
Notes
"Seanbhean" literally means "old woman". "A sheanbhan" is the way to address her (vocative case).
If you're interested, here is a word for word translation:
"O old lady/woman, o old lady/woman,
O old lady/woman, o old lady/woman,
O old lady/woman, o old lady/woman,
Would drink thee tea?" (There's no formal "you" in Irish.)
"I (of it) would drink", said the old lady/woman
"If were sugar and milk inside.
I would drink whole the can of it
If I would get from you it."
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Franc Bell for contributing this rhyme, the literal translation into French and for commenting on it.
Go raibh maith agat!