Poem for BIG FAT ELECTRIC Project - written by Catriona Lexy Campbell

by Sarah Grant, 22 Aug 2009

Poem written for RE:IMAGINING THE CENTRES – Big Fat Electric – project. Written by Gaelic writer and actress Catrina Lexy Cambpell and will be recorded by Big Fat Electric’s Dave Martin.

[Gaelic Version]

Mo shùilean làn fosgailte,
meadhan sluagh na margaid,
cho aithnicht’ an t-àite
ged nach robh mi riamh ann.
Mìltean de dhaoine
a’ coiseachd gach taobh dhiom,
uilinnean, glùinean,
corragan gam shuathadh.
Fad-anail faisgeas,
cho èiginneach milis,
a-rithist ’s a-rithist ’s a-rithist.

Tha iad gam thogail
s gam ghreasdainn air adhart,
corp an-deidh corp
le neart ioma-ghaoith.
M’ òrdagan, òirleach a-nise bhon rathad,
ruisgt’ agus tuathail
is leth-ghàir’ air m’ aghaidh,
tha mi laighe sìos air mo dhruim.

Tro shràidean na margaid
gu briseadh na maidne –
mo bheatha-dùsgadh na adhbhar cadail –
cho àraid an t-àite
ro luath dol à sealladh
far an sìn mi air làmhan is cinn.

[English Version]

My eyes wide open,
middle of the market crowd,
so familiar the place
though I’ve never been here.
Thousands of people walking
each side of me.
elbows, knees, fingers brushing me.
Breath-long closeness,
so achingly sweet,
again and again and again.

They lift me and hurry me on,
body after body,
with the strength of a gale.
My toes, now an inch from the road,
exposed and dizzy
and a half-smile on my face,
I lie down on my back.

Through the market streets
to the break of morning –
my waking-life is a reason for sleeping –
so strange the place
too quick disappearing
where I can stretch on hands and heads