An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volumes 58--62(part), January, 1963--March 1967

Beatha Lan
Le Johannus
Troimh chiar-bhruthainneachd a’ ghlinn
Sgath an fheadag bheothail, dhur,
larann crunidh-sgaiteach a gaoil—
Glieairt’ a’ ehlb-sgail bharr mo shuil ;
Thar mo thiormachd sgaoil an driuchd—
’N tart tha dualach do mo dbaimh—
’S mbothaieh mi an deaibh mo thir
Uile shuaib na bruis ’na laimh.
S fhad o tharmaich cob nan gleann
Cliuir sgleo chaidil ro ar suil,
Leth-sholus feasgar tir ar luaidh
A’ toirt buaidh air ar luths—
’S cha do bhriseadh mar bn choir,
Le gioinne breithneachaidh ar bith,
An solus gl'an ’na chaochladh pairt:
Bu chall an ioma-dhathachd sin.
Is chroohadh le crabh-ghaisgeach Worms,
Air cbmhl’ gach crldh’ an tir mo tbtiis,
An aithne eagarr’ : Fkg an duibhr’
’S dh’an t-solus dhealrach cuir do ghniiis ;
Is dh’ionnsaich sinn an saoghai aill’
A mhean-roinn an geal ’s an duibh:
Math is ole, mear is crion,
Oidhch’ is la ’r gach taobh de’n chladh.
Ann an tlaths na h-Innse thall
Chuir sinn an sgian tro’ chuisl’ is fheoil;
’S bba mhathair Ghearmailteach a’ gul
Airson a fleasgaich eibhinn, big:
Dh’eighte sinn am mod ar cridh
Mar riochdairean na ebraeh ghil,
A’ seasnmh daingeann, treun roimh thuil
l)e dhubh-nimh mhairbhteach an fhior-uilc.
Hinneatih reachdan dh’an mbbr-shldagh,
Heir deachdadh an t-sean chridhe bhrebit’:
Sgaradb eadar muir is tir
’S dh’aithn gun chuan bhi ann ni ’s mb.
Ghlan sinn sad na slighe chais
A’r com le burn a bha ro-fhaisg
Uisg’ a carraig an deagh ghniomh
’S debir aithreachais ar gniomhan ole.
Tha cuid dhinn ’thog ar siiil, os cionn
Gaol is gaire, aoidh is blaths,
’S cuid eiT ag bl o fhion an t-saogh’l,
Fo dhaorach dhrabasda gu ’m bks.
Tha chairt-rogha ann ar laimh
“Danns’ is cebl” no “dubh is brbn”;
Thai ’n teagamh beb an ckil na h-big’
Nach eil slaint’ an Ibn seach Ibn.
Chan e ar cknan ach ar cebl,
Chan e ar cebl ach leas ar dutheh’,
Obraichean ’s chan e oho kill’
’S a! tha ’n Cuian Siar bho gheal'aich uir !
Treig an dubh, lean an geal:
Sin an fheallsanachd tha geairt’
’N aodann ca.rraig ghlas ar bith :
’S tha i nis ann iomadli la,
Ach cha do cliuir ar briobadh siiil
As do sholuis datht’ an la;
Sheas sinn, lomnochd, aims a' ghrein
’S ghabh sinn (ge b’oil leinn e) a bias;
’S dh’fhag gach buille, briath’r is pbg,
Tro’ cholmadh n ad uir, cur air leth
Sinte thar an t-snathnainn theinn
Tha ceangal la ar bais ’s ar bretb.
Ach dhiult sinn cnuasachd mu na roinn,
Cha bu leir duinn tuair a’ chib,
’S gel bha’n a nail ’na ar'heul,
Chrion ar cridh ’s cha robh s’nn beb.
Nis fosgl'amaid a ris ar suil
Gu faic sinn maise agus gras.
Sgaramaid na slabhraidh dhinn
’S gheibh sinn ar Parras—Beatha Ban.
A’ bhardachd leis an do choisinn Dbmhnall
Iain MacLebid, Aird-hasaig, Na Hearadh, a’
cheud duals aig Mbd Obaireadha'n, 1964.
Hope for the Highlands
At last a beam of light is about to penetrate
the lowering clouds of economic gloom which
for many long and arid years have enshrouded
the Highland scene and emptied the glens.
It seems safe to argue that, apart from Tom
Johnston’s hydro-electric schemes, the
appointment of a Highland Development
Board with executive powers is the only
decisive and constructive step taken by any
Government since the notorious episode of
Government-inspired clearances in the 18th
century.
It is hoped that the present proposal will
mark the end of the long and baneful sway of
feudal landlordism in the Highlands and
Islands and that we shall see, as in Norway,
comprehensive schemes of land reclamation
and the break-up of huge sporting estates so
that Highland communities may onoe again
find a secure living in our depopulated straths
and glens. It is essential also that in any
scheme of rehabilitation our cultural heritage
should be fostered and re-established among
our people.
Moladh
’S airidh an t-Urramach Aonghas
MacFhionnlaigh, Fear-naghMdh na h-Eaglaise
Saolre, air moladh airson pios comasach
pongail Gaidhlig a bhith aige anns
an Autumn Record 1964 of The National Bible
Society—deagh eisimple'r do mhinistearan eile
aims gach eaglais air fad is lend na
Gaidhealtachd,