Uile Gu Lèir
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.
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.’
