Muinntir Na H-Albann Nuaidh

This is a poem I keep reading over lately so I thought I would share. It is nice and close to home as well.

A Phriomhaire Dhomhnuill 'ic Uilleim
chuir iomradh do chainnt bhioraich
mur deidhinn
a' smuain seo 'nam inntinn

Nan rachadh do mheasgachadh theangannan,
chultaran, fhein - fhiosrachaidhean mhuinnitir
na h-Albann Nuaidh a dheanadh
gu de a bhiodh ann?

Sinn' a sheasas: An aghaidh phoileasaidhean ion-shiubhlach
a bhuin d' ar piseach ciuin bho ar tus

Sinn' a sheasas stolda: Fulangach le naidheachd bas ar n-
iasgairean is ar meinneadairean

Sinn' a sheasas: Cinnteach as ar n-aite gun a bhith a' leigeil oirnn
nach e rud sam bith eil' a th' unnain ach
muinntir a tha 'fuireach
ann an cearnaidh bhig bhiodaich

Sinn' a sheasas: Iriosal gu neo-dhleasnach
an aghaidh cumhachd is smachd is mi-ruin

Sinn' a sheasas: Dileas dh' ar dleasnais
ach corra uair lag ann an cleachdadh

Sinn' a sheasas: Seann-nosach
a' gleidheadh ruithimean ar muinnitir

Sinn' a sheasas: A' toirt urram dhan fheadhainn a dh'fhalbh
ag aideachadh nach deach tuilleadh dhen nos a bh' aca a ghleidheadh
a' toirt nas lugha dhen am ri teachd dhan am a dh' fhalbh

Sinn' a sheasas: Gu modhail beumach

Sinn' a sheasas: Gun amharas, fosgarra,
a' gabhail ris a' choigreach

Sinn' a sheasas: A' gabhail suim 's na tha tachairt 'sa' chruinne-che
fiosrach air an t-saoghal,
riaraicht' a bhith air ar faighinn air 'iomall

Sinn' a sheasas: Bunaiteach
Le ar coirichean
Is ar bruthaichean
mu choinneimh
a' chuain mhoir chruinn

Sinn' a sheasas: An comhnaidh a' coimhead a-mach ri muir
ris a' mhuir a tha 'toirt dhuinn, muir a tha 'goid bhuainn
deigheil, riaraichte,
aghaidh ri side shearbh

Sinn' a sheasas: Gu foighidneach mi-fhoighidneach
a thaobh geallaidhean
a chaidh a dheanadh
is cainnt bhragach

Sinn' a sheasas: Cabach air gniomhan
is obair muinntir na coimhearsnachd againn

Sinn' a sheasas: Fialaidh, luath a thoirt failte do choigreach
agus charaid a ni ceilidh oirnn

Sinn' a sheasas: steidheil
gu tric gun bheartais is ghoireasan chaich

Sinn' a sheasas: Gu h=ard

Gun cheum cugallach

Neo-steimhidh

Apologies for not having any accents anywhere. I hope it still makes sense.

Nova Scotians

O Premier Danny Williams, a report of your bitter speech
about us put a thought in my mind...

If a mixture of the languages and cultures and experiences of Nova Scotia's people could be made ... what would there be?

We who stand: In face of policies that have affected our quiet well being since our beginning.

We who stand stoic: Forbearing the news of the death of our fisherfolk and miners.

We who stand: Certain of our place without havingto let on that we are anything but residents of a small province.

We who stand: Irreverently humble in the face of subjection, authority and hatred.

We who stand: Faithful to our duties but now and again weak in practicing them

We who stand: Traditional, maintaining the rhythms of our people.

We who stand: Homouring those who went before, admitting that not enough of their legacy has been maintained
giving less of a future to the past

We who stand: polietly critical

We who stand: Unsuspicious, open to accepting the stranger

We who stand: Interested in what is happening in the world, knowledgeable of it, and contented to be located on its edge

We who stand: Constant in our crags and banks in the face of the great round ocean.

We who stand: Perpetually looking out to sea
The sea that gives, the sea that steals
Longing, prepared
To face bitter weather

We who stand: Patiently, impatiently
Concerning promises
Made
And impulsive speech

We who stand: Gossiping about the work and exploits of the people of our community

We who stand: Hospitable, quick to give welcome to friend and stranger who visit us

We who stand: Steady often without the riches and advantages of others

We who stand: Tall, unshaking, impervious

>1 Oighrig: Plenty of food for thought there! I like the repetition, and the different length verses. Do you know anything about the "bitter speech" that sparked off this poem?

No, I don't know anything about the speech and Googling it has made me none the wiser. It would be interesting to find out what it was about though.