in my honest opinion, the lack of freedom or oppression is the most important theme in this beautiful poem
i mo thuairim mhacánta, is é easpa saoirse nó daoirse an téama is tábhachtaí sa dán álainn seo
the poet gives us an insight on the life of the animal that is in captivity in the zoo
tugann an file léargas dúinn ar shaol an ainmhí atá i ngéibheann sa zú
he feels like a prisoner, under control and under the thumb
braitheann sé mar phríosúnach, faoi smacht agus faoin ordóg
he’s not in charge of his own life
níl sé i gceannas ar a shaol féin
he remembers the time when he was free, strong and wild
cuimhníonn sé an am nuair a bhí sé saor, chumhachtach agus fiáin