Proud Maisie
Proud Maisie is in the wood,
Walking so early;
Sweet Robin sits on the bush,
Singing so rarely.
‘Tell me, thou bonny bird,
When shall I marry me?’
‘When six braw gentlemen
Kirkward shall carry ye.’
‘Who makes the bridal bed,
Birdie, say truly?’
‘The grey-headed sexton,
That delves the grave duly.
‘The glowworm o’er grave and stone
Shall light thee steady;
The owl from the steeple sing,
‘Welcome, proud lady.’ ‘
Translations of this Poem
Mèiseag Uallach
Translator: Ian MacDonald
Tha Mèiseag uallach sa choille,
A’ coiseachd gu tràth innt’;
’S brù-dhearg binn air a’ phreas
Ri ceilearadh àlainn.
“Mo phòsadh, eòin chiataich,
Cuin a bhios dùil ris?”
“Nuair bhios sianar dhaoin’-uaisle
Dhan eaglais gad ghiùlain.”
“Cò nì leaba mo phòsaidh –
Abair, eòinein, gu stuama?”
“An rèiligear liath
A chladhaicheas uaighean.
“Thar uaghach is cloiche
Nì an lamprag do shoillseadh;
Is ‘Fàilt’, a bhean uallach,’
Bidh comhachag a’ seinn dhut.”
