Tro Cheò na h-Ùine	Through the Mists of Time
"Chì Mi - The Gaelic Poetry of Donald John MacDonald" deasaichte le Bill Innes; Birlinn, Gàidhlig/Beurla £12.99 bog	"Chì Mi - The Gaelic Poetry of Donald John MacDonald" edited by Bill Innes; Birlinn, Gaelic/English £12.99 paperback
lèirmheas le Niall Gòrdan, Am Blàr Dubh	review by Niall Gordon, Muir of Ord
Is iongantach mur tèid duine a tharraing gu' choslas fhèin, is tha seo a cheart cho fìor mu bhàird: 'se sin, dar leamsa, as adhbhar gu bheil mi a' dèanamh gàirdeachais ri leabhar bàrdachd Dhòmhnaill Iain Dhonnchaidh, Bàrd Pheighinn nan Aoireann. Tha Gàidheil fad is farsaing gu math eòlach air dàin a' Bhàird mar-thà, ach 'se seo a' chiad uair a chruinnicheadh iad uile fon aon dà chòmhdach, agus tha rudeigin sna duilleagan a thig ri càil na h-uile.	Its no surprise that we are attracted towards our own sort, and this is just as true with poets: and that, I feel, is why I celebrate the publication of the book of poetry of Donald John MacDonald, the Uist Bard, which has recently appeared - "I See". The Gaelic world is already quite acquaint with the Bard's poems, but this is the first time they have all been gathered together under the same two covers, and there is something within the pages which will suit everyone.
Nist, tha notaichean cùl-an-leabhair ag innse dhuinn gum bu tric a bhrosnaich a bhith a-muigh 'na aonar am bàrd gu dàn a dhèanamh: agus theagamh gur e seo a thàlaidh mi fhìn dhan obair aige air dòigh. Ach chan e a-mhàin, oir 'sann a chaidh Dòmhnall còir bho bhith na bhàrd traidiseanta gu bhith ris an nua-bhàrdachd, is e 'na chroitear fad a bheatha, a-mach on treis a thug e a' sabaid sa chogadh.	Now, the back-of-book notes tell us that the bard was often inspired to poetry whilst spending time outside on his own: and probably this is what has attracted me, in a way, to his work. But it isn't the only thing, for Donald went from being a traditional poet to composing in the modern idiom, whilst remaining a crofter all his life, apart from a spell he had fighting in the war.
Uill, tha breacadh iomfhillte air feadh na bàrdachd seo, agus am fear dhe na dàin as mò a chòrdas riumsa, tha cruthan is meadairean eugsamhail: seo caoban a "An Clàrsair":	Well, there is a great variety throughout this poetry, and in one of the poems which I like the most there are different structures and metres: here are some sections from "The Harper":
Feasgar samhraidh sa chomh-thràth 'S a' chiad reul-soills' air tighinn bho sgàil	One summer evening in the twilight The first star emerges from cloud
Agus nas fhaide air adhart tha…	And further on, there is...
Albainn nam buadh Fo chasan luchd fuath	Scotland of the virtues Downtrodden by tyrants
Gu…	To…
A shliochd nan curaidh a bhà Bithibh ullamh gun sgàth Seasaibh duineil ri càch a chèile	Decent of warriors of old Be ready without fear Stand manly one with another
Tha an dàn air a roinn 'na "dhuain" - cleas iomadh bàrd, Burns 'nam measg, agus tha e soilleir gu robh meas aig Dòmhnall air obair a' bhàird ainmeil sin.	The poem is divided into "duans" - common practice for many poets, Burns included, and it is obvious that Donald had a great regard for the work of that famous poet.
Mar a bhiodh dùil an leabhar cho tiugh (tha còrr is 300 duilleagan ann), tha iomadh seòrsa bàrdachd ri fhaotainn - bàrdachd baile, dàin is òrain gaoil, aoireadh eirmiseach, cnuasachd mu obair Nàdair, smuaintean domhainn is eile. Ach bhiodh am bàrd ri eadar-theangachadh cuideachd - seo agaibh caob a "Marbhrann ann an Cladh san Dùthaich", dàn ainmeil Ghrè:	As we would expect in such a thick book (there are more than 300 pages in it), there are many kinds of poetry available - village poetry, love poems and songs, witty satire, musings on Nature, profound thoughts and much else. But the bard was also engaged in translation - here is a section from "Elegy written in a Country Churchyard", Gray's famous poem:
Tha neòil na h-oidhch' a' smàladh soills' na sùl' 'S tha sàmhchair chùbhraidh 'n iunnrais chiùin nan speur Gun seòrsa fuaim ach beach nam bruach feadh fhlùr 'S fann ghliong tighinn dlùth bho chròthan cùil na sprèidh.	Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight And all the air a solemn stillness holds Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds.
Bha am bàrd fosgailte fàbharach thaobh buaidh cànain eile air a chuid bàrdachd, is tha an t-eadar-theangachadh-sa 'na dhearbhadh air a-sin.	The bard had an open mind regarding the influence of other languages on his poetry, and his translation is proof of that.
A thuilleadh air beusan eile, bu duine diadhaidh Dòmhnall Iain, agus tha cuid dhe na laoidhean a rinn e no a dh'eadar-theangaich e air solas an latha fhaicinn a-cheana: ach tha iad sin uile cruinn còmhla ann an--seo, agus cha bheag an teisteanas-san air comas is coibhneas spiorad a' bhàird. Crìochnaicheam ma-tà le bhith cur aona rann romhaibh los gum feum sib' fhèin luach na saothrach a dh'fhàg leabhar cho còrdaidh glan againn mar dhìleab is sheul air beatha sàr Ghaidheil:	In addition to his other qualities, Donald Iain was a religious person, and some of the hymns he composed or translated have already seen the light of day: but they are all gathered here together, and they represent a great testimony to the poet's ability and kind spirit. I will finish, then, by giving you one verse so that you may see for yourselves the value of the toil which has brought such a fine and enjoyable book to us as a legacy and a picture of the life of a true Gael:
Fàilt' dhut, a Mhoire, fàilt' Fàilt', a Bhanrighinn gheal nan Òigh: Beannaicht' tha thu measg nam mnà, Tha le gràsan làn is còrr.	Hail to you, Mary, hail Hail, O pure Queen of Virgins: Blessed are you amongst women, You are overflowing with grace.

You can find more articles in the archive under Gaelic Column and information on the organization at C.L.I.