Ràithean airson Sireadh
Seasons for Seeking
Dàin Rumi airson a’ Mhìosachain Ghàidhealaich an Albainn Nuaidh
Poems of Rumi for the Gaelic Cultural Calendar in Nova Scotia
Taghaidhean de dhàin ’s a’ Bheurla le Coleman Barks, mìniche Rumi, le eadar-theangachadh chon na Gàidhlig agus dàin tùsail eile
Selected English poems by Rumi interpreter Coleman Barks with Gaelic translations and other original poems
le | by
Lodaidh MacFhionghain
Lewis MacKinnon
Halifax,
Nova Scotia | Halafacs, Alba Nuadh
Canada
Ràithean airson Sireadh / Seasons for Seeking was first published by Bradan Press in 2017.
Bradan
Press
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
info@bradanpress.com
| www.bradanpress.com
The Gaelic Books Council assisted the publisher with the costs of publishing this book.
Gaelic text and original English text copyright © 2017 Lewis MacKinnon
Seven poems from RUMI: THE BOOK OF LOVE. POEMS OF ECSTASY AND LONGING, TRANSLATIONS & COMMENTARY by COLEMAN BARKS ET AL. Copyright © 2003 by Coleman Barks. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
Twelve poems from A YEAR WITH RUMI: DAILY READINGS by COLEMAN BARKS. Copyright © 2006 by Coleman Barks. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
Five poems from RUMI: THE BIG RED BOOK by COLEMAN BARKS. Copyright © 2010 by Coleman Barks. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
Cover art copyright © 2017 Christine MacIsaac
Sufi woman photo in cover art copyright © 2017 Pande Heryana, apelphotography.com
Back cover author photo copyright © 2017 Jordan Guy Dickie
Gaelic proofreader: Catrìona Parsons
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author and the publisher.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Barks,
Coleman
[Poems. Selections]
Ràithean airson sireadh : dàin
rumi airson a' mhìosachain ghàidhealaich
an albainn nuaidh /
taghaidhean de dhàin 's a' bheurla le Coleman Barks,
mìniche
Rumi, le eadar-theangachadh chon na gàidhlig agus dàin tùsail eile
= Seasons for seeking : poems of Rumi for the Gaelic cultural
calendar in
Nova Scotia / selected English poems by Rumi
interpreter Coleman Barks
with Gaelic translations and other
original poems.
Issued in print and
electronic formats.
Text in Scottish Gaelic with English
translation on facing pages.
ISBN 978-1-988747-05-7
(softcover).--ISBN 978-1-988747-08-8 (EPUB).--
ISBN
978-1-988747-07-1 (Kindle).--ISBN 978-1-988747-06-4 (PDF)
I. MacKinnon, Lewis,
1970-, author, translator II. Title. III. Title: Seasons
for
seeking.
PS3552.A6717A53 2017
811'.54 C2017-906232-8
C2017-906233-6
Chaidh Ràithean airson Sireadh / Seasons for Seeking fhoillseachadh an toiseach le Clò a’ Bhradain ann an 2017.
Clò a’ Bhradain
Halafacs, Alba Nuadh, Canada
mailto:info@bradanpress.com
| www.bradanpress.com
Chuidich Comhairle nan Leabhraichean am foillsichear le cosgaisean an leabhair seo.
Teacsa na Gàidhlig agus teacsa tùsail na Beurla © 2017 Lodaidh MacFhionghain
Seachd dàin bho RUMI: THE BOOK OF LOVE. POEMS OF ECSTASY AND LONGING, TRANSLATIONS & COMMENTARY le COLEMAN BARKS ET AL. © 2003 Coleman Barks. Air an ath-chlò-bhualadh le cead bho HarperCollins Publishers.
Dà dhàin dheug bho A YEAR WITH RUMI: DAILY READINGS le COLEMAN BARKS. © 2006 Coleman Barks. Air an ath-chlò-bhualadh le cead bho HarperCollins Publishers.
Còig dàin bho RUMI: THE BIG RED BOOK le COLEMAN BARKS. © 2010 Coleman Barks. Air an ath-chlò-bhualadh le cead bho HarperCollins Publishers.
Ealan a’ chòmhdaich © 2017 Cairistìona NicÌosaig
Dealbh do bhoireannach Suphach ann an ealain a' chòmhdaich © 2017 Pande Heryana, apelphotography.com
Dealbh an ùghdair air a' chòmhdach-cùil © 2017 Jordan Guy Dickie
Té-dheasachaidh na Gàidhlig: Catrìona Parsons
Gach còir glèidhte. Chan fhaodar cuid sam bith dhen leabhar seo ath-nochdadh, a thasgadh ann an co-rian lorg no a chraobh-sgaoileadh, ann an cruth sam bith no air mhodh sam bith, dealantach, uidheamach no tro dhealbh lethbhric, clàraidh no eile, gun chead ro-làimh ann an sgrìobhadh bhon sgrìobhadair is bhon fhoillsichear.
Facal bho ’n Fhoillsichear
Bheir leughdairean agus sgrìobhdairean Gàidhlig an aire nach eil dòigh litreachaidh na Gàidhlig ann an Ràithean son Sireadh / Seasons for Seeking a’ gabhail gu buileach ris na dòighean-litreachaidh a cleachdar an-diugh ann an Gnàthachas Litreachadh na Gàidhlig (GOC). Suidhichte mar a tha ’ad ann a’ cruth-tìre dùthchasail na h-Albann Nuaidh ’sa’ làtha an-diugh, tha na dàin seo air an dèanadh ’san dòigh-sgrìobhadh Ghàidhlig ris an robh an t-ùghdar cleachdte bho thùs agus a tha air bhith ’na pàirt de mhodh-labhairt litreachas Gàidhlig na mór-roinne airson ginealaichean.
Note from the Publisher
Readers and writers of Gaelic will notice that the printed word in Ràithean son Sireadh / Seasons for Seeking varies from the Scottish Gaelic Orthographic Conventions (GOC) used today. Grounded as they are in the cultural landscape of contemporary Nova Scotia, these poems are composed using the spelling and punctuation that the author was exposed to and which has been part of the Gaelic literary expression of the province for generations.
Aithneachaidhean
Tha na dàin ’s a’ Bheurla le Coleman Barks ás na cruinneachaidh a leanas air an ath-chló-bhualadh le cead o HarperCollins.
English poems by Coleman Barks from the following collections are reprinted with permission from HarperCollins.
A
Year With Rumi: Daily Readings
Burnt Kabob
Who
Says Words With My Mouth
People Want You To Be Happy [Doves]
Harsh
Evidence
Who Makes These Changes
Ignore Those That Make You
Fearful and Sad
The Taste of Morning
The Guest House
One
Swaying Being
That Quick
Amergin’s Song
Rumi:
The Book of Love: Poems of Ecstasy and Longing, Translations and
Commentary
The Stupid Things I’ve Done
Prince of
Kabul
Your Defects
Longing
If Everyone Could See What Love
Is
Today, Like Every Other Day, We Wake up Empty
Out Beyond
Ideas of Wrongdoing and Rightdoing
Rumi:
The Big Red Book
There You Are
Come to the Orchard in
Springtime
Be With Those Who Help Your Being
Admit It and
Change Everything
Knock And He’ll Open the Door For You
“…a chionn gu bheil fhios agam gur maiseach a h-uile rud a tha ùr, agus gur searbh a h-uile rud a tha coitcheann, agus gur miann leinn a tha a h-uile rud nach eil againn, agus is beag a smaoinicheas sinn, air a h-uile rud a th’againn.”
—Eimir, bean a’ ghaisgich Ghàidhealaich mhiotasaich, Cù Chulainn
“…for I know that everything that is new seems fair, and everything that is common seems bitter, and everything we have not seems desirable to us, and everything we have, we think little of.”
—Emer, wife of the mythical Gaelic hero Cù Chulainn (Charles Squire, Celtic Myth & Legend: Poetry & Romance, Gresham Publishing, 1905, p. 187)
An t-Samhainn – A’ 31d dhen Dàmhair
End of the Harvest – October 31st
Féilltean na Nollaig – An 25mh dhen Dùdlachd–an t-6mh dhen Fhaoilteach
Feasts of Christmas – December 25th–January 6th
Oidhche Chullainn – A’ 31d dhen Dùdlachd
Calend’s Night – December 31st
Là Fhéill Brìghde – A’ 1d dhen Ghearran
Brigit’s Feast Day – February 1st
Là Fhéill Pàdraig – An 17mh dhen Mhàrt
Patrick’s Feast Day – March 17th
A’ Chàisg – An 40 Là ro ’n a’ Chàisg
Passover Period – The 40 Days before Easter
Là Buidhe Bealltainn – A’ 1d dhen Chéitean
Yellow Day of Beltane – May 1st
Là Fhéill Chaluim Chille – An 9mh dhen Òg-Mhìos
Columba’s Feast Day – June 9th
Tiotalan eile le Lodaidh MacFhionghain
Other Titles by Lewis MacKinnon
Rugadh Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī, ’s e Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī a bh’ac’ air cuideachd, agus mar is tric ann an saoghal na Beurla Rumi, air an 30mh dhen t-Sultain 1207. ’S dòcha gun d’rugadh e ann am baile beag, air an robh an t-ainm Wakhsh, Peairsia a tha an diugh ann an Tajikistan.
’S e Suphach a bh’ann an Rumi. ’S ann an Suphachd miar dhen chreideamh Ioslamach. As deaghaidh do bhàs athar, ’s e ceannard sgoil-chreidimh a bh’ann an Rumi. Bha e a’ toirt breitheanais is a’ dèanadh cinnteach gu robh na Suphaich a’ fuireachd ’s a’ choimhearsnachd aige a’ cumail beò ann an dòigh na fìreantachd.
An uair sin, thachair Rumi air Shams á Tabriz. Dh’atharraich a’ choinneamh Rumi gu bràth tuilleadh. Thàinig e gu bhith ’na fhear-mothachaidh, agus thòisich e a bhith a’ toirt an aire air cruthachadh agus meas na bòidhcheid.
As deaghaidh bàs Shams, thòisich sruth de chruthachadh tighinn a-mach ás a bheul ’s e ’na thuine mun cuairt ann an seann dòigh nan Suphach—Whirling Dervishes a th’aca orra ’s a’ Bheurla.
Rinn e bàrdachd air a’ chruitheachd, air a’ chàirdeas eadar daonntachd agus air an diadhaidh agus an fhadachd a th’aig daoine a bhith tuigsinn nas fhèarr na diadhachd agus a bhith ann an réiteachadh leatha. Rinn e obair mhór do bhàrdachd a chaidh ’eadartheangachadh ann an iomadh cànan.
Nuair a dh’eug e air an 17mh dhen Dùdlachd 1273 thathar ag ràdhainn gun d’thàinig daoine de ghach creideamh dhan tòrradh aige.
’S e Coleman Barks, bàrd, sgrìobhadair agus neach-dealasach Rumi a chuir eadartheangachaidhean na bu tràithe air bàrdachd Rumi ’s a’ Bheurla ann an cruth na Beurla Aimearaganaich.
Thug Coleman cead dhomh taghaidhean dhe na h-eadar-mhìneachaidhean aige a chur ann an Gàidhlig na h-Albainn Nuaidh. Ann a bhith ’nam dhùsgadh-inntinn mhóir le bàrdachd Rumi thro obair Cholemain, tha mi fada ’na chomain dhan chothrom a tha seo.
Dh’fhiachadh ris na dàin a chaidh a thaghadh a bhith ’gan cur ann an co-theacsa nan ràithean ann am mìosachan culturach nan Gàidheal an Albainn Nuaidh agus dh’fhigh mi a-staigh dàin a rinn mi fhìn do ghach là do ràith sònraichte. Tha an t-ùghdar do gach dàn air a shònrachadh leis na ciad litrichean, “CB” no “LM.”
Gus gach earrann a chur an aithne dhan leughadair, chaidh sreathan bho ranntaichean o’n leabhar, Carmina Gadelica le Alasdair Mac Gille Mhìcheil, is o dhualchas no o sheanchas nan Gàidheal a thaghadh airson an toirt a staigh an cuide ri ràithean agus làthaichean féille.
Tha mi ’n dòchas gum faigh sibh an gliocas, an léirsinn agus an tlachd uile a bhios mi fhìn a’ faighinn ’s na faclan aig Rumi.
Lodaidh
MacFhionghain
Halafacs, Alba Nuadh
An t-Earrach 2017
Introduction
Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī, also known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, and most commonly known in the English world as Rumi, was born on September 30th, 1207. It is likely he was born in the small village called Wakhsh, Persia which is today in Tajikistan.
Rumi was a Sufi. Sufism is a branch of the Islamic faith. After his father’s death, Rumi was head of a religious school. He passed judgement and ensured that the Sufis who lived in his community were living in a righteous manner.
Then Rumi met Shams Tabriz. This meeting changed Rumi forever. He became an aesthetic, concerned with the creation and appreciation of beauty.
After Shams’ death, a stream of creativity came out of Rumi’s mouth as he twirled about in the traditional way of the Sufis—in English this is referred to as Whirling Dervishes.
He made poetry about creation, the relationship between humanity and the divine and the human desire to better understand the divine and to be united with it. He made vast works of poetry that have been translated into many languages.
When he died on December 17th, 1273, it is said that people of every faith came to his funeral.
Coleman Barks, poet, writer and Rumi enthusiast interpreted earlier English translations of Rumi’s poems into an American English format.
Coleman granted me permission to put selections of his interpretations into the Gaelic of Nova Scotia. Having been exposed to Rumi’s poetry through Coleman’s interpretations, I am truly indebted to him for this opportunity.
An attempt was made to put each poem that was selected in the context of the seasons in the Gaelic cultural calendar in Nova Scotia, and poems I made are also woven in for specific days in a season. The author of each poem is indicated by the initials “CB” or “LM.”
To introduce each section, passages from the Carmina Gadelica by Alexander Carmichael, and from Gaelic cultural tradition and proverbs were selected for inclusion to accompany the seasons and cultural calendar days.
I hope you will find much wisdom, perspective and enjoyment in Rumi’s words.
Lewis
MacKinnon
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Spring 2017
Dàin
Poems
Samhainn
’S e Oidhche Shamhna toiseach na bliadhna ùire
’s a’ mhìosachan Ghàidhealach.
Air Oidhche Shamhna,
Bidh na laoighean ’nan gamhna.
—Ás an t-seann nòs
October 31st
“Oidhche Shamhna” or Halloween is the start of
the new year in the Gaelic calendar.
On Halloween,
The calves become yearlings.
—Traditional
Oidhche Shamhna bhith-bhuan
Feithean móra neartmhor,
sin an rud
a chuireas an ruaig
faireachdainnean
gun fheum
air an fheargachadh
le làmhan
luchd a’ bhurraidh;
An fhearg a nochdas
ann an argamaidean-creidimh
far a dh’fheumas neach
a bhith ceart
ri fhaighinn ann an cron a tha ’na thoradh
air ’fhàgail ann an Ifrinn
rotal
na fìreantachd;
Sàmhachas agus fuachd
’nan luchd-tàlaidh
a’ ghaoil
neo-dhìolta
far a sheasas smachd
ann an lùb
’na reòthadh;
Gàire chealgach
air a chur gu feum
ann an geamaichean-inntinne
a’ chumhachd
a chumas neach
a’ tomhas
air luach
a thabhartais;
Cumaidh eagal a’ bhàis
agus na seach-mhallachd
an t-Samhainn
beò
gach là
ar beatha;
A perpetual Halloween
Huge, powerful muscles,
that’s the thing
that puts to flight
feelings
of inadequacy
exacerbated
by the hands
of bullies;
The anger that appears
in religious arguments
where one
must be right
is found in the resulting damage
left in the hell
of the wake
of righteousness;
Silence and coldness
are the caressers
of
unrequited
love
where control stands
in a pool
of frozenness;
A deceitful smile
is used
in mind games
of power
that keeps
one guessing
as to the value
of contributions;
Fear of death
and oblivion
keeps Halloween
alive
every day of our lives;
LM
Tha mi airson dol bàs dha mo bhàs
Tha mi airson dol bàs dha mo bhàs
Tha mi airson a bhith ’nam shìneadh
Air mo dhruim dìreach
’s an dubh dorchadas
Far nach eil sion mun cuairt orm
A bhiodh ’na rud-taice dhomh
Far an tuitinn sìos ’s an neonitheachd,
A’ bristeadh ’ro na rudan meallta
A bhios ’cur dàil orm
Ann am péin is an call, a’ gabhail nàire, troimh chéile;
Agus ruigidh mi àite nach eil ’na àite
Gun sion ri thoirt seachad
Gun sion ri fhaighinn
Ach am bith fhéin
I want to die into my death
I want to die into my death
I want to be stretched out
Flat on my back
In the dark depths
Where there is nothing about me
That could support me
Where I would fall down into the nothingness,
Breaking through the falsities
That suspend me
In pain, loss, shame and confusion;
And land in no place
With nothing to give
With nothing to receive
Where being will be all
LM
Có a bhios a’ dèanadh nan atharrachaidhean seo?
Có a bhios a’ dèanadh nan atharrachaidhean seo?
Fuasglaidh mi saighead air taoibh cheairt,
thig e gu fois taobh chèarr.
Marcaidh mi as deaghaidh féidh
agus thig cullach as mo dheaghaidh-sa.
Nì mi foill gus na tha bhuam ’fhaighinn
is ’s e an toradh mo chur dhan phrìosan.
Cladhaichidh mi slocan gus càch a ghlacadh
is tuitidh mi fhìn unnta.
Bu chòir amharas a bhith agam
ás na bhios bhuam.
Who makes these changes?
Who makes these changes?
I shoot an arrow right.
It lands left.
I ride after a deer
and find myself chased by a hog.
I plot to get what I want
and end up in prison.
I dig pits to trap others
and fall in.
I should be suspicious
of what I want.
CB
Féilltean na Nollaig
An 25mh dhen Dùdlachd–An t-6mh dhen Fhaoilteach
Tha 12 là ann am Féilltean na Nollaige mar bu nòs. Bidh grian-stad a’ gheamhraidh a’ freagair ri toiseach nam féilltean seo.
Bannag nam Buadh
Is mise Bannag, is mise Bochd
Is mise Fear na h-oidhche nochd.
—Carmina Gadelica, Leabhar a h-Aon, 60
Feasts of Christmas
Traditionally, there are 12 days in the Feasts of Christmas. The winter solstice corresponds with the commencement of these feast days.
The Gift of Power
I am the Gift, I am the Poor
I am the One of the night tonight.
—Carmina Gadelica, Volume I, 60
Luirgean m’athar
Thàinig a’ soirbheas a-staigh gu cruaidh
Is bha co-dhiubh
Troigh gu leth de shneachd’ air tighinn sìos
’S ann a’ seo a bha e
A’ méarrsadh ann
Droch ghlùn
Aosda ach gu miarailteach
Làidir, foigheannach
’S e an uéir a dh’fheumadh a bhith air a cur
Suas gus na h-eich a chumail a-staigh
Cha robh e ’smaoineachadh air an t-sìde,