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    John Munro
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  • Ar Tìr ’s Ar Gaisgich A Thuit sna Blàir
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Ar Tìr ’s Ar Gaisgich A Thuit sna Blàir

Iain Rothach
John Munro

(ii)

’S iomadh fear àlinn, òg, sgairteil, deas-làmhach,
Ait-fhaoilt air chinn a bhlàth-chridh’,
Tric le ceum daigheann, làidir, ceum aotrum, glan, sàil-ghlan
Dhìrich bràigh nam beann mòra,
Chaidh a choinneimh a’ bhàis –
Tric ga fhaireach’ roimh-làimh –
Chaidh suas chum a’ bhlàir
’S tha feur glas an-diugh ’fàs
Air na dh’fhàg innleachdan nàmh,
Innleachdan dhubh-sgrios an nàmh a chòrr dheth.

Ged bha cuid dhiubh, nuair bu bheò iad,
Tric nach b’ mhìn rèidh sinn còmhla,
A! thuit iad air còmhnard na strì,
Fhuair sinn sìnt’ iad lem bàs-leòintean
An dusd eudreach’ – nab ha chòrr dhiubh –
An laighe ’sinaedh mar mheòir-shìnt’ –
’Smèideadh, ’stiùireadh,
’Sparradh ùr-oidhirpean òirnne,
Strì air ’n adhart, strì còmhla,
An taobh a thuit iads’ dol còmhl’ ruinn,
Null thar còmhnard na strì.

Bi’s mo chuideachd geàrr-uin’,
Duin do rosg-sgailean air d’ shùil,
’N seòmar ionmhais do smaoin,
’S caoin sholas òg-mhaidne, ciùin-mhaidne, òg-mheis,
Ga lìonadh, a’ briseadh tre uinneig a’ chùil –
’N aite taige, tadhal d’anma,
’Fasgadh cuspairean a’ mhùirn,
An sin – tog, taisg dealbh orra
        Fairich, cluinn,
        An smèideadh, an cainnt ruinn –
An rùn-gnìomh air an tug iad an deò
        Suas, ’nan càradh
        Air an àr-làr,
Air a ghleidheadh dhuinn beò,
Mar gun snaigheadh fear seòlt’
Cuimhneachan cloiche gun phrìs –
        ‘Bi’bh deas gu leum an àirde,
        Le ceum gaisgeil, neo-sgàthach, dàna,
        Bi’bh null thar còmhnard na strì,
        Na lagaich ach bi’bh làidir,
        Bi’bh ’nam badaibh is pàidhibh,
        Am fèin-mhuinghin leag gu làr dhaibh,
        Air adhart, air adhart
        Seo an rathad,
        Cuir a’ bhratach an sàs,
        Daigheann, àrd,
        Air sliabh glòrmhor Deagh-sìth!’


Iain Rothach
John Munro

taken from the anthology In Flanders Fields, ed. Trevor Royle (Edinburgh: Mainstream, 1990)

Tags:

death in battle remembrance World War I
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Iain Rothach
John Munro1889 - 1917

The death of Iain Rothach (John Munro) in Flanders in 1918 deprived 20th century Gaelic literature of a promising young writer who used free verse in a new style of Gaelic poetry.
More about Iain Rothach
John Munro

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