Gàirnealachd / Gardening

By Iain Macrae

Iain Macrae is a poet and playwright who usually earns his living as an actor. He has screen and stage credits with some of the biggest shows in the country, including National Theatre of Scotland productions. He was brought up in Harris, and on screen he has done much for and in Gaelic, including recurring roles in Bannan and Machair, and contributions to Speaking our Language. In the below poem, he explores links between mental well-being and the natural and spiritual world. He admits to being a poor gardener. The poem was selected as one of the Scottish Poetry Library’s Best Scottish Poems of 2021.

Gàirnealachd

Air a ghlùinean sa ghàrradh a’ cruinneachadh ùir mar ùrnaigh na làmhan,

A mheuran mar bhilean ag altachadh bhriathran gu gach aiseirigh bhliadhnail, gach blàth na mhìorbhuil, gach solas chaidh ghineadh à dorchad.

Ann am fionnarachd an oisein fada bho lasraichean-teine na sùilean sluaigh, chì e gathan grèin’ na òr-spruilleag air dhuilleig Eden, druthag uisge na boinneag fala, ’fosgladh geata a Ghethsemane fhèin.

Lìonadh e a làmhan le ùir is dhòrtadh e air a cheann i, ga bhaisteadh, smùir agus fallas a ghnùis, a’ tilleadh a-rithist, a’ mùchadh a chinn, a chuimhne, gach peacadh rinn gach athair no mac màthar riamh air thalamh air an glanadh air falbh.

Lìonadh e a shùilean, a chuinnleanan, a bheul le blas nan gràs.

Dall mar a chiad latha, aithnichidh e a ghlasrach mar thèarman, ga bheòthachadh.

Gardening

On his knees in the garden gathering earth like a prayer in his hands,

his fingers like lips giving words of grace to each annual resurrection, each blossom a marvel, each light with genesis in dark.

In the cool of the corner, far from the fire-flames or the public eye, he sees a sun-dart as gold fragment on his leaf of Eden, a droplet of water as a bead of sweat, opening the gate of his own Gethsemane.

He fills his hands with earth and pours it on his head, baptising himself, dust and sweat of his brow, returning again, smothering his head, his memory, each sin committed by a father or mother’s son ever on earth washed away.

He fills his eyes, his nostrils, his mouth with the taste of grace.

Blind like the first day, he sees his rough land as a refuge, reviving him.