Hallaig

Somhairle MacGill-Eain [Sorley MacLean]

Originale

Set owre bye / Scots translation / Traduzione scozzese / Traduction...

HALLAIG ‘Tha tìm, am fiadh, an coille Hallaig’ Tha bùird is tàirnean air an uinneig trom faca mi an Àird Iar ’s tha mo ghaol aig Allt Hallaig ’na craoibh bheithe, ’s bha i riamh eadar an t-Inbhir ’s Poll a’ Bhainne, thall ’s a-bhos mu Bhaile Chùirn: tha i ’na beithe, ’na calltainn, ’na caorann dhìrich sheang ùir. Ann an Sgreapadal mo chinnidh, far robh Tarmad ’s Eachann Mòr, tha ’n nigheanan ’s am mic ’nan coille a’ gabhail suas ri taobh an lòin. Uaibreach a-nochd na coilich ghiuthais a’ gairm air mullach Cnoc an Rà, dìreach an druim ris a’ ghealaich – chan iadsan coille mo ghràidh. Fuirichidh mi ris a’ bheithe gus an tig i mach an Càrn, gus am bi am bearradh uile o Bheinn na Lice fa sgàil. Mura tig ’s ann theàrnas mi a Hallaig a dh’ionnsaigh Sàbaid nam marbh, far a bheil an sluagh a’ tathaich, gach aon ghinealach a dh’fhalbh. Tha iad fhathast ann a Hallaig, Clann Ghill-Eain’s Clann MhicLeòid, na bh’ ann ri linn Mhic Ghille Chaluim: chunnacas na mairbh beò. Na fir ’nan laighe air an lèanaig aig ceann gach taighe a bh’ ann, na h-igheanan ’nan coille bheithe, dìreach an druim, crom an ceann. Eadar an Leac is na Feàrnaibh tha ’n rathad mòr fo chòinnich chiùin, ’s na h-igheanan ’nam badan sàmhach a’ dol a Clachan mar o thus. Agus a’ tilleadh às a’ Chlachan, à Suidhisnis ’s à tir nam beò; a chuile tè òg uallach gun bhristeadh cridhe an sgeòil. O Allt na Feàrnaibh gus an fhaoilinn tha soilleir an dìomhaireachd nam beann chan eil ach coitheanal nan nighean a’ cumail na coiseachd gun cheann. A’ tilleadh a Hallaig anns an fheasgar, anns a’ chamhanaich bhalbh bheò, a’ lìonadh nan leathadan casa, an gàireachdaich ‘nam chluais ’na ceò, ’s am bòidhche ’na sgleò air mo chridhe mun tig an ciaradh air caoil, ’s nuair theàrnas grian air cùl Dhùn Cana thig peilear dian à gunna Ghaoil; ’s buailear am fiadh a tha ’na thuaineal a’ snòtach nan làraichean feòir; thig reothadh air a shùil sa choille: chan fhaighear lorg air fhuil rim bheò.

HALLAIG “The deer, time, liggs in Hallaig shaw.”   The windae’s nailt an broddit up whaur-throu I saw the airt o the Wast an ma luve is at the burn o Hallaig in her bunnet o birk, an she wis aye   atween Inver an Mulkie Linn thare or thareaboots roun Baile-Chuirn wey, cled in a birk, in a hazel, in a young rowan straucht an sclender.   In Screapadal whaur ma ain fowk wis , whaur Norman an Big Hector bade, thair dochters an thair sons is a wid raxin up alang the burnside.   Prood the nicht the pine cocks craws on the heicht o Cnoc an Ra straucht thair spaulds in the muinlicht – no thaim the wids o ma hert.   I will byde on the birken shaw whit time it raxes til the Cairn whit lenth the haill rig til its scadda owre Ben na Lice dis lour.   Gin it disna, I’m awa doun til Hallaig til the sabbath o the deid wi aa the fowk in thrangity ilk generation that’s awa.   Thay’r aa aye in Hallaig Macleans an MacLeods aa thaim thare frae MacGille Chaluim’s day: the deid haes been seen, leivin yit –   the menfowk lyin on the gress ilk gavel-en o ilka hoose that’s been, the lassies a wid o birk trees, straucht thair spaulds, blate thair heids.   Atween the Leac an Fearns a braird o moss saftens the hie road an the lassies in seilent bauns thegither gangs til Clachan as frae the first.   An comin back frae Clachan, frae Suisnish an the land o the leivin – ilkane young an licht o fuit wi nae hertbrek in the story.   Burn o Fearns lenth o sea-tint cladach Sae clair in the raivelment o the hills the’r nocht but thon congregation o the lassies aye haudin forrit at thair endless haik,   returnin til Hallaig come the eenin in the dumb leivin gloamin fuhlin the stey braes thair lauchter in ma listenin lik a haar   thair fairheid watterin ma hert’s een gin comes the mirk owre the kyles, gin gangs the sun the back o Dun Cana a buhlet frae luve’s gun will come threipin   an stote thon deer that gangs stoiterin snowkin at the gressy larachs; he will faa in the wid, his ee jeelin; whyle I’m alive, ye winna finnd his bluid.