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Òran a' Phuinnsein

The Song of the Poison

'Fhearaibh, a bheil cuimhn' agaibh An là thainig am puinnsean oirnn 'Nar seasamh anns na truinnsichean 'S gun nì ann gus ar còmhdach? O nach beag a shaoileamaid Gun tigeadh ni as ur oirnn — An sruth tha ruith o'r suilean 'S sinn a' cuilearachd 's a' crònan. Cha robh ni gu teanacsadh dhuinn Ach làmh thoirt air an t-searbhadair 'S a cheangal gus nach fhalbhadh e Gu dearbhte mu ar srònan. Cha shaoileamaid san àm bha siud Gun robh am bàs cho teann oirnn — Ar leamsa gur e meall a bh' ann Nuair theann e nail air còmhnard. Sabaid 's cath cha dèanamaid Ged nochdadh iad am fianais dhuinn, Bha na deòir cho deuchainneach 'S chan fhaicinn leus ach neònach. Nam faighinn mar bu mhiannach learn Dhan Ghearmailt gum b'e rn' iarratas Se teine thighinn on iarmailt oirr' Ga leaghadh sios gun tròcair. DOMHNALL RUADH CHORÙNA

Lads, do you remember The day the poison came As we stood in the trenches With nothing to protect us? Oh how little we thought A new thing would come at us — Stream running from our eyes As we crouched and we wheezed. There was no way to help ourselves Except to grab a towel And tie it so that it would stay Firmly round our noses. At that point we hadn't thought That death was so close to us — I had taken it for a shower As it drifted across the ground to us. Fighting and battle were impossible Had they even approached us, So painful were the tears While a weird glow was all I saw. If I had things as I wanted For Germany I'd ask Fire raining from the sky on it To melt it without mercy. DONALD MACDONALD

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