Rudan Mì-bheanailteach is an Cothroman
Intangible Possibilities
CAPE BRETON UNIVERSITY PRESS
SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA
Ainmeachadh
Dhan fheadhainn aig a bheil a' léirsinn do chànan is chultar dhaoine mar rudan mì-bheanailteach a tha a' fìor-lùib ann am bith-iomadachd agus an anam coitcheann beò na Cruinne-Cé.
Dedication
To those who view a people's language and culture as intangible possibilities intimately intertwined with the bio-diversity and collective soul-life of the earth.
Copyright 2014 Lewis MacKinnon
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Responsibility for the research and the permissions obtained for this publication rests with the authors. Cape Breton University Press recognizes fair dealing uses under the Copyright Act (Canada).
CBUP recognizes the support of the Province of Nova Scotia, through Film and Creative Industries Nova Scotia, and the support received for its publishing program from the Canada Council for the Arts Block Grants Program. We are pleased to work in partnership with these bodies to develop and promote our cultural resources.
Dealbh a’ chòmhdaich “Artistic Continuum” (2014) le Cairistìona NicCreamhain, Haileafacs, AN.
Cover illustration “Artistic Continuum” (2014) by Christine Crawford, Halifax, NS.
Cover design: Cathy MacLean Design, Chéticamp, NS.
Layout: Gail Jones, Sydney, NS.
Ceartachaidhean air an dèanadh le Catrìona Parsons.
Proofing by Catrìona Parsons
eBook development: WildElement.ca
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
MacKinnon, Lewis, 1970-, author
Rudan mì-bheanailteach is an cothroman / dàin, le Lodaidh
MacFhionghain = Intangible possibilities / poems, by Lewis
MacKinnon.
Issued in print and electronic formats.
Parallel text in Scottish Gaelic and English.
ISBN 978-1-77206-004-1 (pbk.).--ISBN 978-1-77206-005-8
(pdf).--ISBN 978-1-77206-006-5 (epub).--ISBN 978-1-77206-007-2 (mobi)
I. MacKinnon, Lewis, 1970- . Rudan mì-bheanailteach is an
cothroman. II. Rudan mì-bheanailteach is an cothroman. English.
III. Title. IV. Title: Intangible possibilities.
PS8625.K5556R8313 2014 C891.6'314 C2014-906346-6
C2014-906347-4
Cape Breton University Press, PO Box 5300, Sydney, NS B1P 6L2, Canada
www.cbupress.ca
Rudan Mì-bheanailteach is an Cothroman
Intangible Possibilities
CAPE BRETON UNIVERSITY PRESS
SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA
Facal bho ’n fhear-dheasachaidh
Beagan mu na Dàin
’S ann ’s a’ Ghàidhlig a chaidh na dàin seo a dhèanadh. Chì a’ leughadair an t-eadar-theangachadh do ghach dàn ’s a’ Bheurla. Ged tha tionndaidhean nan dàn ann ’s a’ Bheurla, ’s fhiach a chomharrachadh anns na h-eadartheangachaidhean fhéin gun deach a h-uile oidhirp a dhèanadh a bhith cho dìleas dhan a’ Ghàidhlig ’s a b’urrainn gus a’ chiall a tha ri ’faighinn ’s na tionndaidhean Gàidhlig tùsail a ruigsinn.
Bheir leughadairean agus sgrìobhadairean na Gàidhlig an aire gu luath nach eil dòigh litreachaidh na Gàidhlig ann an Rudan Mì-bheanailteach is an Cothroman a’ gabhail gu buileach ris na dòighean-litreachaidh a chìthear an diugh ann an Gàidhlig na h-Albann. Tha na dàin seo air an dèanadh ann an dòigh-sgrìobhaidh na Gàidhlig ris an robh an t-ùghdar cleachdte bho thùs agus a tha air bhith ’na pàirt de mhodh-labhairt na Gàidhlig an Albainn Nuaidh.
A Word from the Editor
A Little about the Poems
These poems were composed (i.e. made) in Gaelic. The reader will see an English translation for each poem. Though translations of the poems are provided in English, it is worth noting, that in the translation, every effort was made to be as faithful as possible to the intended meaning found in the original Gaelic versions.
Readers and writers of Gaelic will quickly be aware that the printed word in Intangible Possibilities varies from formal Scottish Gaelic Orthographic Conventions. These poems are composed using the spelling and punctuation that the author was exposed to and which has been part of the Gaelic literary expression in Nova Scotia for generations.
Clàr-innse ~ Contents
Roi-ràdh –Foreword
Daoine Ar Gaoil –Beloved
Obair ’s an leth a-staigh – Internal Workings
Tha gach rud ùr a-rithist – All is new again
Chan eil a’ saoghal leinn – The World Isn’t With Us
Na tha do-fhaicsinneach – The Unseen
Eagal: Am biadh Easbhuidheach – Fear: the Dysfunctional Food
An t-anam: Combaist ann an dorchadas agus solust – The Soul: A Compass In Darkness and Light
Foreword
The language and culture of the Gaels live in our province because Gaels do and vice versa.
Gaels in Nova Scotia have an inalienable right to their language and culture and Gaels should be rightly proud of these and work to share these with others in Nova Scotia and visitors.
Language and culture represent the ethnic identity of Gaels: those things which make them unique as a people.
Without compromising this identity, opportunities frequently emerge to see things from other people's perspective that aren't directly involved in the work of language and cultural renewal or who are newly come to the conversation. Seeking greater understanding is a great starting point for renewal and growth.
When it comes to progress pertaining to Gaelic language and culture in the province, it seems the wheel has come around a bit. It is an encouraging time in many ways for Gaels and supporters of Gaels in our province.
With empowered love and compassion as the foundation, this progress can spread, sustaining, enlightening and assisting us all.
The Basket Story
As told by the late John O’Donahue
There was an African farmer who had milk cows. And they were good cows and they gave an excellent supply of milk.
And he started noticing that their milk was decreasing. So, he stayed up this one night and he kept watch to see who was stealing milk from his cows. And the next thing, above the cows, he saw the stars. But then one star grew brighter and larger and it came down to the earth in a column of light.
And this beautiful woman stepped out of the column. And he said to her, “Is it you that was stealing milk from my cows?” She said, “My sisters and I love the milk from your cows and we have been taking it”. He said, “You are very beautiful. Would you marry me? I will be good to you and you won’t have to care for the cows all the time”. She looked at him and she said, “On one condition”. “What’s the condition?” he said. “I have a basket with me and I will marry you if you promise to never look in the basket”. He did this and they were together and they were married for a while and everything was happy.