DASG Blog

Còmhraidhean eadar Ainmhidh agus Mac an Duine ann am Bàrdachd (Pàirt 1)

Just as birds have voices and things to say some say that other animals have the ability to talk too, in full sentences, especially in Poetry. In poetry every converation looks at many topics that relate to the life of the Gael: A ban on hunting; a ban on the Highland clothing; the destruction of Gaelic heritage, etc. Some of them here are done for mirth as well, such as “Òran na Feannaig” and “Òran na Faoileig”. We will have a look at some of the interesting conversations between man and animal.
 
Tuathanach agus Sionnach
This poem was collected in Abergairn, in Aberdeen-shire, and it can be read in “Gaelic Verse in Aberdeenshire, Vol. 2”, by Alison Diack. According to information given it was made by a farmer in from Bad a’ Challain, above Upper Glengairn. The poem is very similar to “Aoir Rodain” but it is very interesting that it utilises a fox instead of a rat, something that is extremely rare in an “aoir rodain”:
“Tuathanach – “A mhadaidh-ruaidh nan lùban
Chualas cliù gu minig ort,
Is tric thu anns na crìochaibh so,
Is olc do ghnìomh air ioma' fear,
Ach molaim dhuit am fàgail,
O'n dh'fhàs mi fhèin 'm fear-glinne annt',
Ma chleachdas tu 'n t-sean àbhaist,
Cha bhi càirdeas 'n d' chinneach-sa."

"Sionnach – 'S olc a fhuair thu d' ionnsach',
Thoir leam gur olc a labhair thu;
O'n thug thu cead nam beann domh,
Leig tàmh dhomh gun smalan orr';
Carson tha ortsa campar,
'S nach eil neach anns na bacaibh so,
A chuireadh mis' am fuadach,
O fhireach fuar gun fhasgadh air?..”
 
Aoireadh, le Alasdair Catanach, an Saor Ruadh, anns a’ Chreagan, ’n uair bha e fuadach nan luch bho sabhal Bhiallaid – LXXVIII in “The Poetry of Badenoch”, by Rev. Thomas Sinton.
This similar satire is from Badenoch, dispraising and satirising rats that were found in the barn of Biallaid, on the edge of Newtonmore. There was a conversation between the rats and Alasdair (the bard), with every party advising and giving their opinions to one another:
“Ma ghabhas sibh mo comhair!’, luchan, Truisidh sibh oirbh 's bidh sibh falbh.
Ma théid mise 'ga n-ur aoireadh, Cha bhi aon agaibh gun chearb.
Cha'n 'eil cat eadar Ruathainn, 'S bràigh Chluainidh nach bi sealg.
'S ann an sabhal Sandy Bàn, Gheàrr sibh an snàth as a' bhalg.
 
'N sin dar thubhairt an luch mhòr 's i 'freagairt, “ Stad beag ort, a shaoidh òig;
'S eagal leam gun gabh thu mìothlachd, Rinn mi dì-chiumhn' ann am fhròig.
'S peacach dhuit mo chuir a balla, 'S cur is cathadh ri mo shròin;
'S mi gun fhios a'm ceana théid mi,— 'S ioma beum a gheibh mo sheòrs.”...”
 
Còmhradh eadar Sealgair agus Dàmh – CVI ann am “Poetry of Badenoch”, le Urr. Tòmas Sinton.
This little conversation here is between a hunter and a stag, with the stag advising the hunter to take up farming and to work the land instead of hunting:
An Sealgair – O! gur muladach mi,
'S mi 'bhi dìreadh gleannain,
'S mi 'bhi 'g amharc bhuam, thall,
Damh donn an langain,
Mar ri eilid nan stuchd,
Théid gu dlùth air 'h-eangaibh.
 
An Damh – Glac an cuib 's an crann,
'S cuir gu teann ri aran ;
Tha do chrodh anns a' ghleann—
'S ro-mhath 'n t- annlann bainne.
 
An Sealgair – Ged tha mo chrodh anns a' ghleann—
Déidh chlann, am bainne...”
 
We will carry on with part two of the blog the next time. Do you recognise any of the poems above? Do you know of another poem of the likes? Let is know on facebook, twitter and our own website!