CARMINA GADELICA

Ortha nan Gaidheal

THE FEAST DAY OF MARY

On the feast day of Mary the fragrant

Mother of the Shepherd of the flocks,

I cut me a handful of the new corn,

I dried it gently in the sun,

I rubbed it sharply from the husk

With mine own palms.

I ground it in a quern on Friday,

I baked it on a fan of sheep-skin,

I toasted it to a fire of rowan,

And I shared it round my people.

I went sunways round my dwelling,

In name of the Mary Mother,

Who promised to preserve me,

Who did preserve me,

And who will preserve me,

In peace, in flocks,

In righteousness of heart,

In labour, in love,

In wisdom, in mercy,

For the sake of Thy Passion.

Thou Christ of grace

Who till the day of my death

Wilt never forsake me!

Oh, till the day of my death

Wilt never forsake me!