Chalanais
Sunset and sunrise through the solstice at Chalanais, a 5000yo stone circle.
Lewis, Western Isles, Scotland.
Fáilte ort féin, a ghrian nan tráth,
‘S tu siubhal ard nan speur;
Do cheumaibh treun air sgéith nan ard,
‘S tu máthair áigh nan reul.
Thu laighe síos an cuan na díth
Gun díobhail is gun sgáth;
Thu ‘g éirigh suas air stuagh na síth,
Mar ríoghainn óg fo bhláth.
[Our/My] own welcome to you, Sun of the seasons,
As you walk the height of your sky;
Your steps are strong upon your ascent,
You are the joyful mother of the stars.
You settle down in the sea of destruction,
Without harm and without fear;
You rise up on the peaceful arc,
As a young queen in bloom.*
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Credits
Poem from Carmina Gadelica—a compendium of blessings from Gaelic speaking Scotland collected ~1860. Translation Chris Godwin.
Photos on this page are by Festina Lentívaldi, (be) Benevolution. Reuse: Creative Commons BY-NC 3.0 US.
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