Skip to content

Scottish Poetry Library

Register/Sign in
Shopping Bag Shopping Bag
Bringing people and poems together
  • Home
  • COVID-19
    • Re-Opening FAQ
  • Poetry
    • Poems
    • Poets
    • Our National Poet
    • Podcasts
    • Best Scottish Poems
    • Poetry and Mindfulness
    • Champions 2020
    • Posters
    • Publishers
  • Library
    • Become a borrower
    • Catalogue
    • Collections
    • Ask a librarian
    • Copyright enquiries
  • Learning
    • National Poetry Day 2019
    • National Poetry Day archive
    • SQA set texts
    • Learning resources
    • New to poetry?
    • Advice for poets
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Exhibitions
    • Venue hire
    • List an event
  • Shop
    • National Poetry Day 2020
    • New Titles
    • Poetry Pamphlet Cards
    • Pocket Poets
    • Scottish Poetry
    • Help
  • About us
    • Our story
    • Our people
    • Our projects
    • Jobs
    • Our building
    • FAQs
    • Find us
  • Support us
    • Become a Friend
    • Donate
    • Easy Fundraising
  • Blog
Shopping BagShopping Bag
Ask a librarian
  • Home
  • >
  • Poetry
  • >
  • Alasdair C. MacIlleBhàin
  • >
  • Uile Gu Lèir
Donate Donate icon Ask a Librarian Ask a Librarian icon

Uile Gu Lèir

Alasdair C. MacIlleBhàin

Chunnaic thu mar a bha
na giorragan
a’ cur dragh orm
ged nach do bhruidhinn mi.

Is chunnaic thu mar a chlisg
mi
fiù ’s mun do shìn mi mo làmh rithe;
mun d’ fhuair i fom ìnean
is nam chraiceann.

Chì mi fhathast thu
aiteal dhìot
boghta
’s do mhala treabhta
’s tu a’ lachanaich
gu brosnachail
’s mi ga blasadh
airson a’ chiad uair.

Coimhead rithe.
Bheir do chridhe dhi.
Bheir do chluais dhi.

Ma nì thu sin
ma dh’èisteas tu
gu dlùth
le dùr-aire
cluinnidh tu i
a guth bàithte binn
a cuid sgeòil
is bidh i agad an uair sin
uile gu lèir.


Alasdair C. MacIlleBhàin

Tags:

love vision

Translations of this Poem

Vision

You saw how
my nerves
were getting the better of me
without me saying a word.

And you saw me
flinch
even before I reached out for her;
before she got under my nails
and into my skin.

I still see you
a glimpse
bowed
your brow lined with laughter
encouraging me to
test her
taste it
for the first time.

Look to her.
Give her your heart.
Listen to her.

If you do that
if you listen
hard
with all that you have
you’ll hear her
her beautiful, muffled voice
what she has to give
and then you’ll have her;
you’ll have it all.

About this poem

This poem was chosen by Ceitidh Campbell as part of the Scottish Poetry Library’s ‘Champions’ project, a guest curatorship programme to help extend our national reach.

Campbell says, ‘At every significant event in my adult life I have wondered what my family who are no longer here would think of my decisions, actions and achievements. When mustering the courage to do something new the belief that they are watching over us emboldens and strengthens us. They see all, they are with us, supporting us, encouraging us, pushing us forward. This poem captures all this and more. Knowing where and whom we come from is as important as knowing where we are going.’

Watch

Share this
Facebook
Twitter
Email

Learn more

Alasdair C. MacIlleBhàin

’S ann à Muile a tha An Dr. Alasdair C. MacIlleBhàin.
More about Alasdair C. MacIlleBhàin

Online Shop

Browse our range of poetry books, cards and gifts in our online shop.
Shop now

Join

Become a Borrower or support our work by becoming a Friend of SPL.
Join us
  • Newsletter signup
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Scottish Poetry Library
5 Crichton's Close, Canongate
Edinburgh EH8 8DT
Tel: +44 (0)131 557 2876
© Scottish Poetry Library 2021.
The Scottish Poetry Library is a registered charity (No. SCO23311).
City of Edinburgh logo Green Arts Initiative logo Creative Scotland logo
By leaves we live

The Scottish Poetry Library is staffed weekdays from 10am – 2pm and is providing a limited service including postal loans and Click & Collect. For details, click COVID-19 in the menu bar above. Dismiss