An Ataireachd Ard The Sea’s Lofty Roar
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An Ataireachd Ard The Sea’s Lofty Roar
An ataireachd bhuan,
Cluinn fuaim na h-ataireachd àird:
Tha torran a’ chuain
Mar chualas leams’ e nam phàist’ –
Gun mhùthadh, gun truas,
A’ sluaisreadh gaineamh na tràgh’d;
An ataireachd bhuan,
Cluinn fuaim na h-ataireachd àird.

Gach làd le a stuadh,
Cho luaisgeach, faramach, bàn,
Na chabhaig gu cruaidh,
’S e gruamach, dosrach gun sgàth;
Ach strìochdaidh a luaths
Aig bruaich na h-uidhe bh’ aig càch,
Mar chaochail an sluagh
Bha uair sa bhaile sa tàmh.

Sna coilltean a siar
Chan iarrainn fuireach gu bràth –
Bha m’ inntinn ’s mo mhiann
A-riamh air lagan a’ bhàigh,
Ach iadsan bha fial
An gnìomh, an caidreabh ’s an àgh
Air sgapadh gun dìon,
Mar thriallas ealtainn ro nàmh.

Seileach is luachair,
Cluaran, muran is stàrr
Air tachdadh nam fuaran
’N d’ fhuair mi iomadh deoch-phàit’;
Na tobhtaichean fuar
Le buathallan ’s cuiseag gum bàrr
’S an deanntagach ruadh
Fàs suas sa chagailt bha blàth.
Endless surge of the sea,
Hear the sound of the sea’s lofty roar,
The thundering swell
That I heard as a child long ago –
Without change or compassion
Dragging the sand of the shore:
Endless surge of the sea,
Hear the sound of the sea’s lofty roar.

All the waves crashing down
Are trembling, loud-sounding and white,
So hurried and cruel,
Grim and spuming without taking fright;
But their speed falls away
At the same destination each time
As the people have perished
Who once dwelt in this village of mine.

In the forests of the west
I’ve never wanted to stay,
My mind and ambition
Set firm on the hollow of the bay;
But those who were generous
In effort, in friendship and fame
Are scattered defenceless
Like birds in their enemy’s way.

Rushes and willow,
And thistle, and marram and grass,
Have choked up the springs
Where I’d find many thirst-quenching draughts;
The ruins are so cold,
With ragwort and dockens growing high,
While the red nettle swarms
Where warm is the ghost of the hearth.

 

   

dòmhnall maciomhair/ Donald Maciver
1857-1935


Ealaíontóir/Artist:
Peannaire/Calligrapher:
Aistritheoir/Translator:
Ainmníodh ag/Nominator:
Clare Langan
Frances Breen
Ronald Black
Norman Campbell

 

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