Don Mhnaoi Phòsta Catrìona Laing, Uibhist a-Tuath,
ceannard seirbheis cobhair na dachaigh

Bhon tha peann agam 'nam mheòirean,
Sgrìobhaidh mi leis sìos mun t-sòlas
Rinn mi ris an rìbhinn bhòidhich
     A thàinig gam fheòraich dhachaigh.

Tha i laghach agus bàidheil,
Air a h-aodann fiamh a' ghàire;
Tha h-anail mar ghaoth a' ghàrraidh
     Far am fàs na blàthan fallain.

Tha i coingeis Beur' no Gàidhlig,
Tha i comasach sna dhà dhiubh;
Bhuilich freastal oirre tàlann
     A thug àrd i ann an aithne.

Tha i tapaidh agus sunndach,
Deas 'na pearsa 's 'na giùlan;
A dà ghruaidh air dhreach nan ùbhlan
     Bhios air cunntair bùth a' cheannaich'.

Tha i leam mar reul san iarmailt
An àm don fheasgar a bhith ciaradh,
An uair tha ghrian a' cromadh sìos
     'S an cuan an-iar a' dol ga falach.

Tha a brìodal leam cho ceòlmhor
Ri pìob-mhàl' fo raghadh mheòirean;
Tha a crìdh cho làn de chòiread -
     Cha dèan mèinn an òir a cheannach.

Tha de thaitneas 'na briathran
Na chuireadh mì-ghean air dìochuimhn',
Tha deud cho geal ri sneachd' air sliabh
     'S e measgaichte le trian clach-mheallain.

Falt dubh dualach ann an òrdagh
'S e cho snuadhmhor agus bòidheach:
Chan eil teagamh nach do chòrd sinn,
     Chuir i sòlas mun a' chagailt.

Sgaoil ar conaltradh gu làidir:
Bhruidhinn sinn mu iomadh àite
Eadar sgòrr-bheanntan Chinn t-Sàile
     Chun a' chàirn a th' air Beinn Bhragaidh.

Nuair a dh'fhalbh i bha mi tùrsach,
Tha mi daonnan ann ga h-ionndrainn:
Tha h-ìomhaigh leam a-cheart cho rùnach
     Ris na flùran air a' mhachair.

Bidh mo bheannachd ga còmhdhail
Anns an àit' sam bheil i còmhnaidh -
Cadal suaimhneach socair stòlda
     'S dùsgadh beòthail anns a' mhadainn.

In Praise of the Lady who Came Home to See Me

To Mrs Cathy Laing, North Uist, head of the home help service

As it happens that I have the pen in my fingers,
I will write down with pleasure
About the beautiful lady
     Who came home to see me.

She is nice and pretty,
And on her face a lovely smile;
Her breath is like the freshness
     Coming from a garden of flowers.

She can talk English and Gaelic,
She is fluent in both languages;
She is blessed with talents
     Which brought her to high office.

She is strong and healthy,
Fit in mind and body;
Her cheeks are as rosy
     As apples on the counter of a merchant's shop.

I see her as a star in the Heavens
When darkness falls,
When the sun is declining
     And the ocean going to hide her from our view.

Her speech is as musical as the bagpipes
Played by elegant fingers;
Her heart is full of kindness -
     A gold mine could never buy it.

Her voice is so pleasing
It will cast gloom away,
Her teeth as white as snow and hail
     Mixed in the drifts of a field.

Her dark heavy curly hair
Is beautiful in hue and appearance:
We got on really well,
     She brought happiness to my hearth.

Our conversation was very interesting:
We talked about many places,
From the mountains of Kintail
     To the cairn on Ben Bhraggie.

When she went away I was sorry,
I am always missing her:
Her image to me is as beautiful
     As the flowers on the machair.

My blessings always go
To the place where she is staying -
I wish her sound sleep
     And a bright happy awakening.

(author's translation)