Uath

Publication Instance Details #632

Publication Overview

Translation	Is Multilingual	Explicit Irish Context?	Ekphrasis	Has Paratext?	Reference to News, Media or Technology
No	No	Yes	No	No	No

Details

Human Rights Issues	War HR & Environment HR & Weapons of Mass Destruction (incl. nuclear)
War / Genocide Referenced	War: Gulf War
Irish Context	Other
Languages	Irish
Genre	Short Lyric
Medium	Print Collection
Notes	The speaker of this poem describes a general sense of horror and fear at the world, using many otherworldly images from Irish mythology to portray her terror, such as the Salmon of Knowledge killed in a poisoned pools, and fairy women being raped at the edge of cities, and so forth. There is a mention of Kuwait's oil, which, based on the time of publication, could potentially refer to the Gulf War, 1990-1991. There is also a reference to 'bolgán béice' or 'puffball mushrooms' which can be showered upon the earth. This could be read as a nod to nuclear bombings, as the aftermath of these bombs are often called 'mushroom clouds'. There is a general sense of malaise and despair at the state of 'us' - which could refer to Irish people, or perhaps the world at large.