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Màiri Iain Mhurch' Chaluim

Màiri Iain Mhurch' Chaluim

The next poem we will look at is “Màiri Iain Mhurch' Chaluim” by Anne Frater.

The poem is about the death of Anna's great-grandfather, in the terrible accident that happened to the HMY Iolaire while she was returning to Stornoway.

We read about Call uabhasach na h-Iolaire (the terrible loss of the Iolaire) in B1 Cuspair 24.

The theme is nonetheless powerful, and the writer's personal relationship with it makes it extremely sad and poignant.

Read the poem first.

You may wish to read it two or three times.

Think about the language, and the images that Anna Frater uses.

Màiri Iain Mhurch' Chaluim

Anna Frater

Mo sheanmhair, a chaill a h-athair air an Iolaire, oidhche na Bliadhn' Ùir, 1919

Tha mi nam shuidhe ag èisteachd ribh
agus tha mo chridh' a' tuigsinn
barrachd na mo chlaisneachd;
's mo shùilean a' toirt a-steach
barrachd na mo chluasan.

Ur guth sèimh, ur cainnt
ag èirigh 's a' tuiteam mar thonn
air aghaidh fhuar a' chuain
's an-dràst' 's a-rithist a' briseadh
air creag bhiorach cuimhne;
's an sàl a' tighinn gu bàrr
ann an glas-chuan ur sùilean.

"Bha e air an ròp
an uair a bhris e …"
Agus bhris ur cridhe cuideachd
le call an ròpa chalma
air an robh grèim gràidheil agaibh
fhad 's a bha sibh a' sreap suas
nur leanabh.

Agus, aig aois deich bliadhna,
cha robh agaibh ach cuimhne air a' chreig
a bhiodh gur cumail còmhnard;
's gach dòchas a bha nur sùilean
air a bhàthadh tron oidhch' ud,
's tro gach bliadhn' ùr a lean.

Chàirich iad a' chreag
agus dh'fhàg sin toll.

Chruadhaich an sàl ur beatha
agus chùm e am pian ùr;
agus dh'fhuirich e nur sùilean
cho goirt 's a bha e riamh;
agus tha pian na caillich
cho geur ri pian na nighinn,
agus tha ur cridhe
a' briseadh às ùr
a' cuimhneachadh ur n-athar.
" … oir bha athair agam …"

A translation is available at: https://booksfromscotland.com/2021/01/favourite-gaelic-poems/

DÈ DO BHEACHD? | WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Tha Frater a' cleachdadh trì samhlaidhean san dàn—cò/dè iad?
Frater uses three symbols in the poem—what are they?
Dè tha an ròpa a' riochdachadh?
What does the rope represent?
Dè an dealbh a gheibh sinn den mhuir san dàn?
What picture do we get of the sea in the poem?
Ciamar a tha Frater a' cleachdadh na h-ìomhaighe sin?
How does Frater use that image?
Carson a chuir Frater an dà iomradh air na thuirt a seanmhair ris an dàn?
Why did Frater add to the poem the two references to what her grandmother said?
Airson barrachd a leughadh mun bhàrdachd seo, agus mu Anna Frater, theirig gu:
To read more about this poem, and about Anna Frater, go to:

www.bbc.co.uk/alba/foghlam/larachnambard/poets/anna_frater/bardachd/

GLIOCAS | TIP  

😊 📚 

It's well worth looking saving Làrach nam Bàrd in your bookmarks/favourites. It's a very important resource. 

www.bbc.co.uk/alba/foghlam/larachnambard 

and don't forget 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/oran/

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