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AN GAODHAL
Oil City, Pa. Feb. 25th. 1884.
To the Editor of the GAEL.
Dear Sir, — My object in writing the following composition
has been to divorce one of our most beautiful and attractive Irish
airs from an improper, unsuitable connection, to which it had been
wedded, in days past, by some obscure, vulgar poetaster, who had
no due appreciation of its merits. I am well aware that the Cuc¬
koo builds no nest of its own but appropriates that of another bird;
and hence the production has no actual basis of reality for its foun¬
dation : but must be accredited to the whimsical fancy and creative
imagination of its humble author. Professor O'Curry, in his works
on the “Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish " has stated that
some of our melodious, popular Gaelic airs reach back for their ori¬
gin to a date anterior to the beginning of the Christian era; and
hence the propriety of their preservation must appear obvious to
the true Irish patriot who feels zealous for the traditionary honor
of his enlightened ancestors.
W. RUSSELL.
The Cuckoo's Nest. In Irish and English:
Written for the GAEL by William Russell.
Tráth mhaidne mar bo chleachtas dom, air bhruach srutháin ag taisdiol dom,
Tré sgartachaibh, bláth-fhuilighthe, mar ruaig mo chasán,
Áit a g-canadh annsa n-Earrach moch, an chéirseach chaoin a binne-phuirt,
'Sa 'smólach, ghnitheach, a foínn san ngarran —
Mar bhidheas am ghas neamhghangaideach, baoiseach, is óg —
Sul a n-gort mo shaoighil do sgaip an aois síol an dobróin —
Mo chróidhe le méidhir, bo bhrosdaighthe, nuair fuair me didheanmhar
(fosgaidhthe,
Faoi chraochaibh saillighe feistighthe nead cuaiche a d-tor.
'Nois 'faid nár thig le gaoth air bith aon dochar léin do dhéanadh dhí,
Do bhí flocas teith na h-alann d'a compórdughadh astigh —
Le feathal, rón, is olann fáin, do bhí fighte clumh na g-colm bán,
Ag cur greantacht air an g-caithis do chuir draoidheacht air an nid:
A coilleadh siúd dob' ana-choir na reighfeach lem' chroidhe,
D'a h-ál níor dheárnas anachain ach thréigeas an t-slighe;
'S go dian ag triall abhaille dhom tré mhágh nóinínidhe geala-chruith,
'Na seoid am dhiaidh-si fanas nead na cuaiche san d-tor.
Mar sheanann naomh a thréithe cirt, do cheileas mo dhiscreid anois,
Air eagla, mar do sgeitheann an tuath-ghaoth plúr na sgoth,
Go n-dhéanfach gadaídh beag gan stad, le fonn is meinn a bheith ag slad,
Nead éin na Mai do chreacha 'r fad, uair éigin go grod —
D' fhaireas ó ghlan-mhaidin í go meadhan an ghil lae,
'S a d-taibhribh ionn mo chodladh dhom do bhídheas le na taobh :
Óir cia daor na gréithre saidhbhiris do ghradhann an saoghal le leithriodas,
Níor bh' éifeacht liom iad seochas nead na cuaiche san d-tór.
Anois ó taim ag dul an aois, le gráin seadh thráchtaim air an m-baois,
Do bhronn an oiread geana air neimhnídh bhig gan tabhachd;
Ach ní'l díth-céille réidh liom fós, óir tá mé saobh air eile nós,
Tré dhán mo rae dhom tharaing-si a sgléipibh do ghnaith:
'S ní shé dúil a n-ionamhus is buairt dom go brách,
Na súil go d-tabharfaidhe urraim dom go buan ameasg chách;
Ach siad mna — díl mhná na m-briocht is tearc, a n-éididhe sighe, do sgíobh¬
(as searc,
As lár mo chroidhe a n-ionad nide cuaiche a d-tor.
"An Spealadóir."
