The Gaelic Poetry Nook will present poetry both in English and Gaelic.

Oidhche Chullaig Hogmanay Night
A-nochd chuimhnich mi air Oidhchd Chullaig:
an t-àgh an toileachas, an deasalachadh.
To night I remember Hogmanay Night:
the ancticipation, the joy, the preparation.
Tha mise nochd a' tighinn gur n-ionnsaigh
A dh'ùrachadh dhuibh na Cullaig
Cha ruig mi leas a bhith ga innse,
Bha I ann ri linn mo sheanar.
I am coming tonight to you
To renew for you Hogmanay;
I have no need to tell you of it,
It existed in the time of my grandfather.
'S a' chais ga cur mun cuairt,
's na faclan a' bruthadh a-mach:
silidh, ìm, càise ("Mac Eòghainn Mhóir"), briosgaidean, is "stork" le gàire,
's suas, suas-suas gu Taigh Nìll ' Illeasbaig
s'na balaich aig taigh le òran is botal mór,
fear le tastan, fear le leth-chrùn, fear leis a' "Chaiòra".
And the skin-strip put round,
and the words pouring forth:
jam, butter, cheese ("Big Ewen's son"!), biscuits, and "stork" with a snigger,
and up, up to Neil MacPhee's house
and the boys ashore with a song and big bottle,
one with a shilling, one with a half-crown, one singing the "Caiòra".
'S a' chais ga cur mun cuairt,
's na faclan a' bruthadh a-mach:
silidh, ìm, càise ("Mac Eòghainn Mhóir"), briosgaidean, is "stork" le gàire,
's suas, suas-suas gu Taigh Nìll ' Illeasbaig
s'na balaich aig taigh le òran is botal mór,
fear le tastan, fear le leth-chrùn, fear leis a' "Chaiòra".
And the skin-strip put round,
and the words pouring forth:
jam, butter, cheese ("Big Ewen's son"!), biscuits, and "stork" with a snigger,
and up, up to Neil MacPhee's house
and the boys ashore with a song and big bottle,
one with a shilling, one with a half-crown, one singing the "Caiòra".
Mo chaisean Cullaig ann am' phòcaid,
S math en ceò thig às an fhear ud:
Thèid e deiseil air na pàistean,
Gu h-àraid air bean an taighe.
My Hogmany skin-strip in my pocket,
And good is the smoke that comes from it:
It will go sunwise round the children,
And especially round the housewife.
"S sìos, sìos seachad air an dìg,
s sìos, sìos seachad air an dìg
(far am b fheudar dhombh mùn),
And down, down past the ditch,
And down, down, past the ditch
(where I had to have a pee),
"mo chaisean Cullaig ann am' phòcaid,
s math a ceò thig ás an fhear ud.
my Hogmanay skin-strip in my pocket,
And good is the smoke that comes from it.
"S cho doirbh 's a bha na faclan deireannach
s' tu cho beag (cò aig' a Dhia bha fios orra?).
And how difficult the last lines where to remember
And you so wee (did anyone know them, O God?).
Chì thu nis iad ann an leabhar brèagha
(The Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist),
's mise cho diùid le na briathran móra:
You can now see them in the beautiful book
(The Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist),
and I so shy with the big words:
Bean an taighe si as fhiach e,
Làmh a riarachadh na Cullaig;
Rud beag de shochair an t-samhraidh
A' cumail geall air aig an aran.
'Tis the housewife who deserves it,
Here is the hand for the 'Hogmanay';
A small thing of the good things of summer
To keep a promise got with the bread,
Fosgail an doras is leig a-staigh mi!
Open the door and let me in!
Fosgail an doras is leig a-staigh mi!
Open the door and let me in!
Fosgail an doras is leig a-staigh mi!
Open the door and let me in!
Aonghas Padraig Caimbeul
Angus Peter Campbell>BR>

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