Oidhche Shamhna 2024

Air fhoillseachadh: 8 Faoilleach 2025 ann an Naidheachdan

Ciad dàn le Meg Bateman na dreuchd mar Bhàrd a’ Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich 2024-25.

Bha e riamh uasal às na gìsearan
a thigeadh mun doras bliadhna às dèidh bliadhna.
Dh’èisteadh e ris na tùirn ac’
is thogadh e dealbhan, ach a-nochd
tharraing rudeigin eile air a chridhe.

Nuair a dh’fhalbh an fheadhainn mu dheireadh
cha do thill e a-steach gus na coinnlean a mhùchadh
’s plaosgan nan cnò is pàipearan shuiteas a sguabadh
no gearan ri bhean gun tàinig a’ chulaidh ac’ on bhùth
no gun robh a’ pheapag air ruaig a thoirt air an t-snèap.

Cha do thill. Dh’fhan e san doras
a’ faireachdainn na sìorraidheachd a’ fosgladh
mun ghath solais san do dh’fhàs esan sean
is dhan tuislicheadh na gìsearan às ùr
mar phiseagan às an dorchadas.

Halloween 2024

He’d always been proud of the guisers
that came to their door year after year.
He’d coax out their turns
and take their photos, but tonight
something else tugged at his heart.

When the last troupe left
he hadn’t rushed in to blow out the candles
or sweep away nutshells and sweetie papers
or complain to his wife the costumes were bought
or that the pumpkin had routed the humble neep.

No. He’d stood in the doorway
and felt eternity opening wide
round the shaft of light where he’d grown old
and the guisers tumbled in anew
like kittens from the dark.