Bardachd, Gaelic poetry- self-writen or otherwise

[Faileas]

Hallo, a chairdean,

i thought i would open up this topic as stoirmeil said he likes Gaelic poetry and I will start with one that I wrote for the literature exam at Sabhal Mor Ostaig. I quite like it and it is based upon a journey between Portree and Sleat on a full moon night. It was fascinating .. I can tell ye. Just remember that Gaidhlig poetry works with sounds rather than rhyme. So its sounds at the end of a line or even sounds within a line and so on. Sometimes they happen to rhyme but it certainly is not the rule. Of course the poetry doesn't work as such in English as it does in Gaelic, which is why I refused to translate it elsewhere. I hope ye understand why, as ye read this underneath . But for the benefit of those who might have trouble understanding what it is about, I will break with that attitude and give you all the benefit of understanding the message

Gealach an Eilein

Tha airgead a' nochdadh air a' chuan a tha domhain is dubh.
Tha Marsco cho soilleir ag innnse mu buan.

Tha an t-eilean cho sitheil a-nochd, fianais air stri, air daoine bochd,
a' toirt fada falbh orra bhon taigh. Chan eil ach caoraich an-drasda a-staigh.

Tha an càr a' sigheadhdh seachad, tobhtaichean falamh a' lineadh an rathad.
Ach tha sinne òg fhathast, gaol ùr a tha beò an dràsd.

Am bi beatha ùr a' tighinn a-rithist? No an fhuirich do dhualchas ach brist'?

Chan eil fhios aig gealach an Eilein a chuir na ceistean nam ceann.
Bidh freagairt aig teaghlach, athair, mathair agus clann.


Island Moon

Silver appears on the sea, that is deep and dark.
Marsco is telling so clearly about eternity.

The island is so peaceful tonight - witness to fight, to poor people
that were taken far away from the house. There are only sheep there today.

The car is gliding past - empty ruins are lining the road.
But we are still young - new love that is alive today.

Will new life come again? Or will your heritage remain only broken?

There is no answer at the island moon that put the questions in my head.
Answer will be with family - father, mother and children.

[WizardofOwls]

Bravo! Glé mhath, a ghràidh! I love it both in Gaelic and English! I hope you will post more of your work here!

[stoirmeil]

Tapadh leat, Faileas. Tha e glé breagha!

I can't say what I want to about it in gaidhlig yet. But I am slowly working out the enchantment (draoidheacht?) of the word sounds, with the help of the translation (thank you for that -- I understand your reluctance, because I also write in an endangered language that suffers translation poorly). It was generous of you to offer the technical comments as well -- good things to learn. But mostly, what a wonderful translation of the visual and emotional experience into sound.

[TandVh]

Mòran taing mo charaid!
The poetry is good- I have a few books of Scottish poetry and mostly they write about the coutryside or Scot's livelihood- everyday life for a Scotsman. Your poem was different and thought provoking.
Does it allude to the lack of life in Scotland? Or on this particular isle? The empty houses?


Maybe the clearances emptied the lanscape, but they did serve to distribute Scots all ove the globe where they could thrive and develop into a global force instead of just a national one.

Just my take on it- could be your poem had nothing to do with the clearances, but it lead my mind there.

Tapadh leat.

[GunChleoc]

Cha d' fhuair mi sin fhathast, chòrd e rium!