Tha na làithean a' dol seachad

Tha na làithean a' dol seachad,
tha sinn a' fàs aosd.
Dé thachair do 'n dannsair anns an sgàthan
leis an aodann gun sgòth?
Tha ceileir nan eun nas fhaid air falbh
air a bhàthadh aig torman an ràsair,
tha an tubhailt air cùl an doruis
coltach ri taibhs.

A! a shaoghail, na mheall thu sinn
no an e nach do thuig sinn thu ceart
anns na laithean òg ud
nuair a bha d' aodann-sa fosgailte
ag ath-shoillseachadh ar n-aodainn fhìn.

- Iain Mac a' Ghobhainn

The days flash past us
as we age.
What happened to the ballerina in the mirror,
what happened to her unblemished face?
The twittering birds diminish
under the shaver's surly buzz,
the towel behind the door
becomes an apparition.

A! world, did you indeed deceive us
or was it us who misread you
all those days
your face was lying open
reflecting back on us.

- Iain Crichton Smith (translated by Kevin MacNeil)