seann chleòc

by Iain S Mac a’ phearsain

’s e seann chleòc
    a th’ anns a’ phian
mhòir a shiùbhlas leinn
    bho chian nan cian

briogais theann a chuireas
    a’ chas bheag oirnn uile
nuair a shioftas sinn
    gu togail oirnn, lath ‘  buidhe

’s e searbh-lèine a th’ ann
    gar tachdadh bho chùl
na h-amhaich’ sìos gu
    bonn na broinn’, tha mi an dùil

an old cloak

ample pain is an
    old cloak that
travels with us
    from ages gone

tight trousers that
    hobble us all
when we make
    to move on, some happy day

it’s a bitter-shirt
    choking us from the
back of the neck down to the
    bottom of the belly, I expect