Fàilt', a ghruagach dhonn mo ghaoil,
   Si d' aoibh a thog mo cheòl
'S a chuireadh sunnd 'nam chom le gaol
   'S a dh'aotromaich mo bhròn;
Ged bhithinn ìosal iomadh uair
   Mar as dualach do mo sheòrs',
Nì fiamh do ghàire blàths do m' chrìdh
   'S do bhrìodal m' fhàgail òg.

An dealbh a nì mi dhiot an-dràst'
   Mar eala snàmh san òb,
Mar shneachd air mullach nam beann àrd
   'S e deàrrsadh madainn reòdht',
Mar long fo shiùil a-muigh sa chuan
   'S a' ghaoth cho cruaidh gu còrs',
'S i stiùireadh cùrsa nall gu luath
   Gu Uibhist uain' an eòrn'.

Mar ghathan gréin' san àird' an-iar
   Tha ìomhaigh chiùin na h-òigh',
Tha blàths is càirdeas, agus rian,
   Tha Crìostalachd 'nad fheòil;
Tha àilleachd a' snàmh 'nad ghnùis -
   Gach seòrsa flùir as bòidhch',
Tha ròsan 's ùbhlan 'na do ghruaidh
   'S céir-bheach mun cuairt do bheòil.

Cridhe coibhneil agus blàth
   Cur fàilt' air aois is òig',
Bidh beannachd dhaoine leat gu bràth
   Gach là fhads bhios tu beò;
Gur fhad o chuireadh ort an crùn
   Gu mùirneach aig a' Mhòd
'S a fhuair thu 'n t-urram bhith 'nad Bhàrd
   Le tàlantan do bheòil!

Nuair thig ciaradh air mo là
   Is gath a' bhàis 'nam fheòil,
A' dol don t-sìorraidheachd gu bràth
   'S a' laigh' a' cnàmh fon fhòd,
Mhiannaichinn gum bithinn dlùth
   Don mhaighdinn rùnaich chòir
Ris an robh mi réidh o thùs -
   'S cha bhrist an ùir an còrd.

To Mary Maclean, Grimsay

Greetings, my darling brownhaired lass,
   Your charm's set me composing
For it's always brightened my soul with love
   And lightened my depression;
Though time and again I have been low
   As my kind is inclined to be,
The sight of your smile brings warmth to my heart
   While your banter restores my youth.

The image I'll make of you just now
   Is of a swan that swims in the bay,
Of snow on the highest mountain tops
   As it gleams in the morning frost,
Of a ship in full sail out there in the ocean
   While the wind blows hard to the shore,
Steering her course so swiftly across
   To pale-green Uist of the barley.

Like rays of sunshine in the west
   Is the girl's serene appearance,
There's warmth and friendship, and self-possession,
   There's Christianity in your flesh;
There's beauty swimming in your face -
   Each kind of flower that's loveliest,
Roses and apples are in your cheek
   And beeswax around your mouth.

A heart that's full of warmth and kindness
   Welcoming both old and young,
People's blessings go with you forever
   Each day that you're alive;
O how long it is since you were crowned
   Ceremonially at the Mòd
And received the honour of being Bard
   For the talents of your mouth!

When evening descends upon my day
   With the dart of death in my flesh,
Going for all time to eternity
   And lying rotting in the soil,
I'd wish forever to be close
   To the girl who's dear and kind
And who has always been my friend -
   And the grave won't break the cord.