Hello,
Could someone please help me translate this poem by WB Yeats. I'd like to use it for my wedding.
Many thanks

"HAD I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with the golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams beneath your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams..."

Poetry is normally better left in the original language, especially something as complicated as Yeats.

This is neither poetic, nor correct, but it might give people ideas of where better to take it.

Dá mbeadh éadaí fuáilte na bhflaitheas agam,
fite fuaite le solas óir geal,
An t-éadach gorm, doiléir agus dorcha,
éadach an oíche, an lae, agus an cróntráth.
Scarfainn na h-éadaí faoi do chosa,
mar mar dhuine bocht níl agam ach mo chuid aislingí.
Tá mo chuid aislingí scartha faoi do chosa;
Siúil go headtrom mar tá tú ag siúl ar mo chuid aislingí.

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
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This is one of my favourite poems, but perhaps you might like a poem with an equally beautiful message, but one which was written in Irish. I agree with Bríd that it is difficult - if not impossible -to capture the poetry and beauty of poetry in a translation.

Just a thought.

Unfortunately I can't suggest one, but the more learned amongst the members may be.

Feel free to completely ignore my comment!

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That sounds very nice to me, a Bhríd, with one piddling suggestion in red above.

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I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

I think I'd leave it as the original 'mar mar' but always open to suggestions of course...

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Bí cinnte de go nglacfaidh triúr le gach aistriúchán a thabharfar.
Be sure to get three in agreement with a translation given.

Thanks for your help!