Woke I early
Adapted from the Scots Gaelic of Mary Macpherson
Woke I early on a May morning there
A little sadness was in my heart
The cattle lowing in their belly I heard
And the sun rising on the higher part
Of all the mountains around me lofty.
The night was taken off by the ray of day
And high above landscape a lark songs came to me
And youth returned in memory on my way
To remember what things did I then .
Some things I could not recall accurately
The winter work, and traipsing to weddings when
Peat guided us, no lamp there for me
In the song and the dances of lively youth.
It is away and sad the lonely valley now seems
When I look at Andy's house gone to ruin
Recall how young I was in remembered things
As I walked each high hill and low valley
Where once to fold the cows I did, I had
No cares then. Those happy young men were taken from me
Our natives driven without any claim, clearance made,
Where I used to clip the corn with joy in my heart
Rushes molded to the earth the expanse of the moor land...
If only I could again see the houses rebuilt in finer part
If only lightness of heart to hold again in my hand...
