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Excerpt for 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 by Lodaidh MacFhionghain
& Coleman Barks, available in its entirety at Smashwords

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Acknowledgements

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)

Clàr-innse | Contents

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

An Lùnasdal – Àm an Fhoghair

August 1 – The Harvest

Mu Lodaidh MacFhionghain

About Lewis MacKinnon

Tiotalan eile le Lodaidh MacFhionghain

Other Titles by Lewis MacKinnon

Facal-tòisich

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

A’ 31d dhen Dàmhair

’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

End of Harvest

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

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;

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

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.

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

December 25th–January 6th

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,

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