Oighreachd – a poem by Rody Gorman

Posted on 28 July 2022 in Latest News

Oighreachd

A’ siubhal am badeigin
Air cùl an t-seanchais is am Parbh
Thall ud gu tuath
’S an oighreachd aig Dùthaich MhicAoidh
Bhuam shuas gu deas
Far an robh bradan san linne
’S am fiadh mun fhireach
Is an iolaire-dhubh san aonach
Is an sneachda bho shean air a’ mhullach
Is de chaoraich-fhuadain,
Mo chreach, is de fhraoch
Air fad is air feadh na tìre
‘S an uair a’ mùthadh is a’ fàs coimheach
Garbh is balbh mu seach
Agus glasadh an t-sluaigh
Mean air mhean a’ caochladh
Is a’ falbh is a’ tighinn gu crìch
Mu dheireadh thall ’s a-bhos,
Coimhid, na craobhan-durcain ud,
Seadh, nach buin dhan dùthchas
A’ crìonadh is a’ sgapadh le gaoith
Gach taobh gan leagail a-nuas
Is a’ togail ceann, coimhid,
Nan àite na coilltean a bh’ ann
’S a leagadh ri làr nan linn
Gan cur às ùr air feadh a’ mhonaidh.

Deathseektravelling in some tuftbushplace in the back of beyond and Cape Wrath over there to the farmcountrypeoplenorth and the heritageestate of Reay Forest over there up in the neatnearsouth where there was salmon in the soundpools and deer on the barren high ground and the golden eagle in the firgreenheathhights and the old snow on the summit and all the falsestray sheep and furyrippleheather all over the land and the hourtimeweather decaychanging and wastebecoming alienterribly rough and dumbcalm turns about  and greygreen lockdown little by little diechanging and going and coming to a last borderend at long last here and there, keeplook, aye, those non-native coneconifers oppressionblastwithering and scattered by the wind every whichway being felled and headendemerging, keeplook, in their place the woods that were felled to the centreground in their generationtime being replanted all over the levelheathermoors.

This poem was inspired by news of a forestry renewal project in Sutherland. The Gaelic Books Council supports Trees for Life. Find out how you can contribute by planting a tree in our grove, Coille nan Leabhraichean.