To mark the vernal equinox, Duncan Ferguson’s ode to the coming of spring in the West Highlands ranges in cultural references from the Latin of the Roman poet Horace (translated by A E Housman) to an old tale of Kintail, where the Five Sisters wait in vain for their promised Irish suitors.
SALVE, O VER! /A SALUTE TO SPRING
‘Diffugere nives’ sang the bard:
thanks to Horace and Housman –
from Sabine hills to Shropshire rills –
we have that ode to spring
classical and Saxon;
but in Highland vernal climes
we chant our little equinoctial ode
as we recall that legend
of sailors aground
from ‘The Lady Shamrock’
on a western shore
with suitors due to return
for that day not so long from
St Patrick’s feast (or Paschaltide)
while again the grand Five Sisters of Kintail
look seaward in vain for those Irish grooms
as the daffodil and primrose will surely bloom.
~
SALVE, O VER!/ FAILT’ AIR AN EARRACH
‘Diffugere nives’ sheinn am bàrd:
le taing do Horace ‘s Housman –
fear Sabinach ‘s balach na siorramachd sin -
tha dàn beag don earrach againn
clasaigeach ‘s Sasannach;
ach air a’ Ghàidhealtachd sa Mhàirt
seinnidh sinn ar fàilt air an earrach
deagh chuimhn’ air seann sgeul
seòladairean air na creagan
bhon bhàta Èirinneach
air a’ chosd an iar
‘s dùil ris na bràithrean
air là nach eil cho goirid – no fada bhon
là Naoimh Phàdraig (no àm na Càisge)
nuair a bhios Peathraichean bhrèagha Chinn t-Sàile
feitheamh gun dòchas air fleasgaich a Eirinn
na lotaichean làn fhlùraichean ‘s uain.
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