Gaelic: Bàrdachd fighe làn dath, gaoil, bròin – agus feirge

LE a chuid bàrdachd Bheurla ’s na dealbhan camara aig Carol Ann Peacock air gach dàrna taobh-duilleig, tha Donald S Mur­ray á Nis air leabhar eireachd­ail a choisrigeadh dhan Chlò Hearach, Weaving Songs (Acair, còmh­dach cruaidh, £14.95).

Tha saidhbhreas de dh’ìomh­aigh­ean anns a’ chlò mhór, gun teagamh, ’s tha Murray gan cur a dh’obair gu sgilear: clòimh, snàth, sìneadh, sròiceadh (“the stretch and tear that might
become a man”), boile, dath, fighe, còmhlachas (se “neighbours’ voices entwining” a th’ aige air luadhadh).

Bidh e a’ cleachdadh diofar stoidh­lichean de rannaigheachd: pop (“You are the man who makes rainbows . . .”), ùrnaigh (“Let us weave . . . / . . . and give thanks for the thread / of breath that passes through us all”), rann nursaraidh (“By the clicking of my feet, / I will weave the cloth you need, / spun from lengths of Harris Tweed”), cho math ri seòrsachan nas amallaiche agus rosg fhéin.

Agus tha fiosrachadh ann: tha Murray a’ mìneachadh gur ann á obair a’ chlò ann an Sasainn a thàinig faclan cumanta Beurla mar “on tenterhooks” agus “spin­ning a yarn”.

Aon den iomadh seòrsa tlachd a ghabh mise á Weaving Songs b’e snàithleinean a lorg (duilich mu dheidhinn siud, tha e gabhaltach). Mar eisimpleir, anns an roimh-ràdh aige tha Murray a’ cuimhneachadh bho làithean òige gum biodh fear ann an Dail bho Dheas, Donaidh Timotaidh, ag obair sa bheairt fada staigh dhan oidhche, agus aon cheithir uairean tron leabh­ar mhothaich mi do Dhonaidh Timotaidh agus/neo fighe na
h-oidhche a’ tighinn am bàrr. “Donnie used to work his loom / on nights when moon was clear and full” (‘Weaving Stars’). “She saw his loom as a rival / with all its different coloured strands / caressed with greater tenderness / than he ever with his hands / these nights stretched out to hold her / within the light and heft of sheets” (‘Weaving Spells 4’). “Donaidh Thomotaidh [sic], Dòmh­nall Barabal, / Ghost bachelors of Dell, / whose looms and lines hang silent / now that they’ve moved into darkness” (‘Weaving Spirits’). “Some nights he will rise from his grave on the machair, / brushing the weight of sand from arms and shoulders / before going back to his old loom-shed / to work upon a tweed left there” (‘Ghost Weaver’).

Tha Murray a’ fuireach ann an Arcaibh an-diugh. Tha bòidhch­ead, dath agus gaol ann a Weaving Songs ach iargain, bròn agus fearg cuid­eachd. Bidh cuid de Nis­ich far an dòghach le cuid de na rudan a th’ ann. Ach sin mar a tha an saoghal.