Poems

Poem recited by John Moireson [John Morison] of Bragar [Eilean Leòdhais /Isle of Lewis] about a 'voracious' factor, who had died from choking on food, as his grave was filled in. The poem begins 'Cuiribh air! Cuiribh air!' and the English version given begins 'Heap on him! heap on him!'. It is composed of four lines in each version

Poem beginning 'Dàcheann a dh'fàg an t-earrachal', with a note on vocabulary and the background story of two good friends, Iain ic Fhearchair [John MacCodrum] and Mac Aonas Gheobha [Mac Aonghais Ghobha] who went out on the moor, lost each other, one ending up on 'moineach Ebhall' [Eabhal/Eaval, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist] and the other on 'Cill-èirebhagh, Beinn am faothla' [Cill Eirebhagh/Kilerivagh, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula]. The poem is composed of four lines.

Poem by John Moireson [John Morison] of Bragar [Eilean Leòdhais /Isle of Lewis] addressed to a factor who Morison had invited to his house for dinner but who left before eating as they had argued. The poem begins 'Dh'fhalbh thu ruin 's cha mhiste liom', the English version of which is given as ' Thou hast left nor sorry am I'. The poem is composed of four lines in each version.

Poem beginning 'A chorraghritheach mor', Na suidhe air an tom'. The poem is composed of six lines and at the end is a note written in English.

Poem beginning 'Am fac thu each seachad an seo?' for the safeguarding of animals, collected from W. M. Thorburn [William MacLeod Thorburn] of Skye, Wellgate, Dundee. Carmichael notes it as being 'Obtained my me from [William] Craigie, Oxford of the Oxford Dictionary'. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.

Poem beginning 'An Caolas ad Odrum, Far an caidil na roin' and accompanying note, which states that Caolas Odrum 'between the isle of Heisgeir and the isle of Sheilley, North Uist' [Theisgeir/Heisker and Siolaigh/Shillay, Uibhist a Tuath]. Carmichael also notes that 'Shielly' comes from 'Seal (roin) + ay' and 'Heisgeir from h-aoi isthmus and ey - an isle'.

[Poem] beginning 'An gille gun fhoill'. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.

Poem or tongue-twister beginning 'Ba[th]se oiris is an 'athse bhathanse nam bu t a[th]s i'.

Children's poem beginning 'Big big bigeachan, Co chreach mo neadachan' meant to imitate birdsong. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.

Poem beginning 'Chun[naic] mi na Sandagan (sand eels), A dir[each] ri Meall anndrari' being three verses of the twelve false verses and twelve verses which a condemned man had to make up in order to save himself from being put to death. The accompanying note which states that the man made the verses up in Gearrloch [Geàrrloch/Gairloch, Ros is Cromba/Ross and Cromarty].