Scottish Centre

The Poem

June

Ma life as a hale life

Will never win past June
Thon June, when ma hert deed
When ma poetry deed
When ma true luve
Deed in the steerin speerit's puil o bluid

June, the bealin sun apens ma skin
Tae shaw the true naitur o ma skaith
June, the fish sweem awa frae the bluid-reid sea
Tae anither airt tae winter owre
June, the yird gies a shog, the rivers speak nae mair
Sic a bing o letters, cannae be taen tae the doors o the deid.

Translation to Scots by Kate Armstrong. Scots and Gaelic are Scotland’s two indigenous languages, as Irish Gaelic is of Ireland – historically and culturally, Scotland and Ireland are closely linked. Scots and Gaelic have a rich literary heritage and writers in all three languages are a key feature of the contemporary cultural environment.

Kate Armstrong is a Dundee-based poet and translator, who has contributed to Scottish PEN’s ‘Women Translated by Women’ events. 

An t-Ògmhios

Chan fhaigh mo bheatha

Seachad a-chaoidh air an Ògmhios,
An t-Ògmhios nuair a shiubhail mo chridhe,
Nuair a shiubhail mo bhàrdachd,
Nuair a shiubhail mo rùn
Ann an lochan-fala na suirghe.

An t-Ògmhios is a’ ghrian a’ greadadh is a’ fosgladh mo chraicinn,
A’ nochdadh ann am fìrinn mar a tha mo chreuchd,
An t-Ògmhios is an t-iasg a’ snàmh a-mach
Bhon an tabh air dhath na fala
Gu àiteigin eile far an dèan e tàmh a’ gheamhraidh,
An t-Ògmhios, am fonn a’ carachadh, na h-aibhnichean a’ fàs balbh,
Litrichean air an càrnadh suas
Nach gabh cur air falbh gu na mairbh.

Translation to Scottish Gaelic by Rody Gorman. Scots and Gaelic are Scotland’s two indigenous languages, as Irish Gaelic is of Ireland – historically and culturally, Scotland and Ireland are closely linked. Scots and Gaelic have a rich literary heritage and writers in all three languages are a key feature of the contemporary cultural environment.

The recording is made by Maoilios Caimbeul/Myles Campbell.

Rody Gorman writes in Irish and Scottish Gaelic. Born in Dublin, he now lives on Skye, and is convenor of Scottish PEN’s Translation and Linguistic Rights committee. 

Meitheamh

Ní thiocfaidh mo bheatha

Go deo na ndeor as an Meitheamh,
An Meitheamh nuair a d’éag mo chroí,
Nuair a d’éag m’fhilíocht,
Nuair a d’éag mo rún
I lochán fola na suirí.

An Meitheamh ag dó is ag oscailt mo chraicinn,
Ag nochtadh le fírinne mar atá mo chréacht,
An Meitheamh is an t-iasc ag snámh amach
As an bhfarraige ar dhath na fola
Go ball ina gceapfaidh sé sos an gheimhridh,
An Meitheamh, an talamh ag bogadh, na haibhneacha ag éirí bodhar,
Litreacha thuas ina gcarn ionas nach féidir
Iad a sheoladh go dtí na mairbh.

Translation to Irish Gaelic by Rody Gorman. Scots and Gaelic are Scotland’s two indigenous languages, as Irish Gaelic is of Ireland – historically and culturally, Scotland and Ireland are closely linked. Scots and Gaelic have a rich literary heritage and writers in all three languages are a key feature of the contemporary cultural environment.

Rody Gorman writes in Irish and Scottish Gaelic. Born in Dublin, he now lives on Skye, and is convenor of Scottish PEN’s Translation and Linguistic Rights committee.

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