AN DEALACHADH
Naoi ceud deug deich air fhichead bliadhna
Bha an Lùnastal tighinn gu crìch
Rinn iad aonta an t-Eilean fhàgail
O an tàmailt a bha sa chùis;
Bha gach nì a bha ac 'san t-saoghal
Air a chruinneachadh ann an aon àit'
Aig a' chidhe measg chrodh is chaorach
Chum iad slaodadh gu deireadh là.
Chun na dachaigh an oidhch' mu dheireadh
Ceuman tùrsach is cridhe bruit,
Deòir nan sùilean dol air an glùinean,
Cha bhiodh cùisean a chaoidh mar bhà;
Nuair a dhùisg iad bha madainn chiùin ann
Chur iad orra an aodach là
Is mar a b' àbhaist le adhradh teaghlaich
Thug iad taing dhan an Dia as àird'.
Nuair a dh'fhàg iad an dachaigh ghràdhach
Le na teinntean a' losgadh 'n àird',
Cnap min-eòrn air a h-uile bòrd ann
Bìoball fosgailte anns gach àit',
Thug iad sùil anns a h-uile cùil dheth,
Smuaintean cùbhraidh a' dol mun cuairt,
Làithean bàidheil is làithean cràiteach,
Bhiodh gach smuain tighinn air ais às ùr.
Coiseachd sìos chun a' chidhe còmhla,
òg is aost agus meadhan-latha,
Iad cho sgìth leis an ionnsaigh làidir
Cha robh cabhag a' dol air bòrd,
Nuair a sheòl iad à Bàgh a' Bhaile
Cùrs an ear orr' gu beatha às ùr,
Bhiodh na teinntean a-nis air losgadh
Fàgail àite bha marbh is fuar.
THE PARTING
The year was Nineteen Hundred and Thirty
August was at an end
They reluctantly decided to leave the island
O the heartbreak of this decision
Everything which they possessed
Was gathered in one place
At the quay with sheep and cattle
They kept hauling till the end of day
To their homes for the last evening
Heavy footsteps and broken hearts
Tears in their eyes as they kneeled for prayer
Things would never be the same again
When they woke the morning was quiet and calm
They put on their daily clothes
And as was the custom with family prayers
They thanked almighty God
When they left their beloved homes
With a blazing fire in each one
A measure of barley on the table
And an open Bible in each place
A final look in each corner
sweet memories going round
each one returning and reminding them
Of happy and sad days
Walking down to the quay together
Old and young and middle aged
Each one so tired of the heavy hauling
No one in a hurry to go on board
When they sailed from the village bay
sailing eastward to a new life
All the fires, they have now burnt out
Leaving an Island so cold and dead.