Anns an dachaigh-chùraim

by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul

Tha dà chailleach a’ fighe,
cluich hopscotch
taobh muigh na sgoile.

‘Seall – chaill thu stiods’
mar gun robh a’ chaileag eile
air leum a-mach às a’ bhogsa,
’s cha robh aig Seònaid a-nis
ach danns, gu cinnteach, gu ceann na cleas.

In the nursing home

Two old women are knitting,
playing hopscotch
in the school playground.

‘Look – you’ve dropped a stitch’
as if the other lassie
had hopped out of the box
and all Jessie had to do now
was to dance, perfectly, to the cat’s cradle.