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Còmhraidhean eadar Ainmhidh agus Mac an Duine ann am Bàrdachd (Pàirt 2)

Còmhraidhean eadar Ainmhidh agus Mac an Duine ann am Bàrdachd (Pàirt 2)

Posted by Calum on 22nd June, 2023
Welcome back! You didn't believe that there weren't more people that were talking to other animals, did you?.. We are back anyway with more poetry between man and a plethora of animals this time, starting, and returning, to Badenoch.

Fear Srath Mathaisidh agus Fiadh – CVII in “The Poetry of Badenoch”, by Rev. Thomas Sinton.
This poem was made by the tacksman of Strathmashie after the Battle of Culloden, with acts of banning on guns and on the Highland dress. With bans on the heritage and practises of the Gael this took a serious effect on the identity of the Gael and this is studied and expounded upon in this poem between the hunter and the stag:
Sealgair – "Moch ’s mi ’g éiridh ‘sa mhaduinn,
Gu h-airtnealach pramhail,
Togail a mach ris a’ mhunadh,
'S muladach a ta mi,
Gun bhi ’san éideadh a chleachd mi,
Ach mar bhaigeir Gallda;
Cha'n aithnich uiread nam fiadh mi,
'S fiadhaich leam a dh’ fhàs iad.

Fiadh – Sin 'n uair 'labhair damh nan cabar,
Stad air d'ais mar tha thu;
Nàile ! bheirinn-se ort comhairl]',
Mar choimhearsnach càirdeil;
B' fhèarr dhuit fantail aig a' bhaile,
'San air' thoirt air do phàisdean,
Na bhi 'an dùil gu mealladh tu mise,
Le d' bhrigis, mo nàire!.."
 
Comhradh eadar Fear Srath Mathaisidh agus Dàmh – CXII in “The Poetry of Badenoch”, by Rev. Thomas Sinton.
There was many things that the tacksman of Strathmashie had to say about the bans on Highland heritage of the Gael and so he had more to say to another stag as well:
Sealgair – “Gu ’m a slàn do 'n Spàinteach
Nach do mheall mi riamh am fheum,
Cha d’ rinn i dhomh breug ’s b’ aithne dh’ 1;
'N uair chaidh sinn ’n ar cabhaig,
'S 'n ar deannabh le chéile,
Chaidh ise air gleus mar b' ait leam.
 
Damh – 'S mòr a b' fhearr dhuit dho] gu tìoradh,
'S a bhi sìor-chartadh ann,
Na bhi caitheamh do thìm,
Feadh na frìthe beachdadh,—
Bhi falbh leis an seòdulach,!
Gu h-eòlach is gu mall,
’S i obair is fhearr na spaisdearachd...”

Òran na Feannaig
“Òran na Feannaig” is very interesting, there are other accounts and versions of this song, this is clear in “Òran le Donnchadh MacRath” by Donnchadh MacRath, in “Co’-chruinneachadh de dh’ oranan taoghta” and the song is sung by Ailean Beag. This version can be found in “Keith Norman MacDonald’s Puirt-à-Beul”:
“’Chiad latha dhen a’ bhliadhna,
B’e Diciadain an latha,
Bha mi muladach cianail,
’S cha robh riamh orm a leithid:
A b’ àirde shealltainn fodham,
’S chunnaic mi feannag na tràigh’
’S i shìos bhuam a’ labhairt.
Ach bha i sean, Ach bha i sean.
 
’Mìle fàilt’ ort fhèin, Fheannag!
Gur math as aithne dhomh do sheòrsa:
Faodaidh tu tighinn nios dàine,
Mas ann à Geàrrloch a sheòl thu!
Innis thusa dhòmhsa gu beachdail,
Bheil sgadan [sna h-]Òban,
Na bheil coltas nios pàilt’ dhiubh
Eadar Asainn agus Cnòidfhiord?
Na bheil iad ac’! Na bheil iad ac’!..”
 
Òran na Faoileig – Number 78 in “Keith Norman MacDonald’s Puirt-à-Beul”, by William Lamb).
In “Òran na Faoileig” it is a seagull that speaks about what she saw on a beach and about what she was wanting from them. I imagine that every seagull is somewhat like that!:
“‘Pi-hilli hò-um, hum-am-im-bo,
Bothan-an, im-bo, am-um-bo,
Pi-hilli hò-um, hum-am-im-bo,
Bothan-im-bo, hi-li-bhear-i.’
 
Siud mar thubhairt an fhaoileag
’S i caoineadh air bràigh a’ chladaich:
‘Chuir iad an fheòil ann an sailleadh
’S am falach ormsa!’...”
 
There are an abundance of conversations between animals and men that can be read but I shall let you share your examples bewteen yourselves. Do you know any of the poems above? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our own website!
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