Scottish Readings

There are many fine works of Scottish poetry which, because they are still protected by copyright, cannot be posted on this website. Consider the works of Sorley Maclean, the greatest Gaelic poet of the 20th Century, either in the original or in translation; the heart-warming poems of Aonghas MacNeacail, Maureen Sangster, Iain Crichton-Smith and Gael Turnbull, or the tongue-in-cheek poetry of Diana Hendry,

When you book me as your celebrant you will have the benefit of my large collection of readings, which include works from the 15th century right through to those of modern Scots poets and writers, in English, Scots, and Scots Gaelic.

Two readings and a blessing

The Confirmation
by Edwin Muir (1887-1959) who was born on Orkney
Yes, yours, my love, is the right human face.
l in my mind had waited for this long,
Seeing the false and searching for the true,
Then found you as a traveller finds a place
Of welcome suddenly amid the wrong
Valleys and rocks and twisting roads. But you,
What shall I call you? A fountain in a waste,
A well of water in a country dry,
Or anything that's honest and good, an eye
That makes the whole world bright. Your open heart,
Simple with giving, gives the primal deed,
The first good world, the blossom, the blowing seed,
The hearth, the steadfast land, the wandering sea,
Not beautiful or rare in every part,
But like yourself, as they were meant to be.

1 Corinthians 13 from The New Testament in Scots
by William Laughton Lorimer
Luve is patientful; luve is couthie an kind;
    luve is jane jailous; nane sprosie;
nane bowdent wi pride; nane mislaired;
    nane hame-drauchit; nane toustie.

Luve keeps nae nickstick o the wrangs it drees;
    find nae pleisure i the ill wark o ithers;
is ey liftit up whan truith dings lies;
    kens ey tae keep a caum souch;
ie ey sweired tae misdout;
    ey howps the best; ey bides the warst.

there is three things bides for ey:
faith, howp, luve
But the grytest of the three is luve.

18th Century Gaelic Blessing
written by the Reverend Donald MacLeod, Minister of Duirinish, Skye Scotland
Mìle fàilte dhuit le d'bhréid,
Fad do ré gun robh thu slàn.
Móran làithean dhuit is sìth,
Le d'mhaitheas is le d'nì bhi fàs.

Translation:
A thousand welcomes to you with your marriage kerchief,
may you be healthy all your days.
May you be blessed with long life and peace,
may you grow old with goodness and with riches.