An Taigh-tasgaidh ’s an Leabhar
Feumaidh mi dhol chun taigh-tasgaidh
dh’fhaicinn uidheaman m’ eachdraidh
a shad mo sheanmhair às,
a shuath mo sheanair
le bhoisean cnapach sgìth
air a’ chuairt mu dheireadh
a ghabh e
dhan t-sabhal.
Feumaidh mi dhol chun taigh-tasgaidh
às aonais duslach an fheòir
air m’ aodach,
dh’fhaicinn uidheaman m’ eachdraidh
mus tèid an leth-shealladh
den leth-sgeul
a th’ agam
a dhìth
leis an sguab th’ air cùl mo shàil.
Feumaidh mi leabhar bhith deas air mo shùil
de bhriathran nan làithean a dh’fhalbh,
feumaidh mi leughadh fa chomhair an àm
tha cànan an cunnart dhol balbh.
Feumaidh mi leabhar a dh’innseas dhomh sgeul
nach eil idir air bilean an t-sluaigh,
a dhol gu fear eile ’son barrachd de dh’fhios
’s de thuigse air adhbhar na truaigh’.
Translations of this Poem
The Museum and the Book
I must go to the museum
to see the tools of my history
my grandmother threw out
my grandfather stroked
with his tired knobbly hands
on the last round
he made
of the barn.
I must go to the museum
without the dust of the grass
on my clothes
to see the tools of my history
before the half-sight
of the half-story
I have
is swept
away by the brush at my heels.
I must have a book for my eyes
of the words of days gone by
I must read it when facing the time
a language threatens to go dumb.
I must have a book that will tell me a story
that’s not on the lips of my people,
must go to someone else for more information
and understanding of the reason for grief.
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Màiri NicGumaraid
Mary Montgomery
Mary Montgomery’s most recent collection ‘Fo Stiùir a Faire’, published by Coiscéim in 2012, inspired Irish critic Seán de Fréine to describe NicGumaraid as ‘one of Scotland’s great poets’ praising her ‘straightforward’ style.Mary Montgomery
