Hugh MacDiarmid Memorial

near Langholm

Now then, is it ... blip, thought, action, poem, or, thought, poem, action, blip, or, poem, thought, blip thought, action leading to blip ... etc?
... does blip shape consciousness, action, will ...?

I had been watching the debate on TV and thought of Hugh MacDiarmid and of going to have a trip out to Langholm to take another look at the memorial there, which I love ... What a great memorial in such a wonderful setting. Having had the thought I started to look back over some of his poetry but then came across the one below which I hadn't seen before and which struck home. And so I determined to make the trip, take the blip, have a walk and on for a cuppa at Samye Ling ... yet another astonishing spot and a blip for another day.

A watergaw is a broken rainbow, a broken shaft of a rainbow sometimes seen between clouds.

The Watergaw (English version ) by Hugh MacDiarmid

One wet, early evening in the sheep-shearing season
I saw that occasional, rare thing -
A broken shaft of a rainbow with its trembling light
Beyond the dowpour of the rain
And I thought of the last, wild look you gave
Before you died.

The skylark's nest was dark and desolate,
My heart was too
But I have thought of that foolish light
Ever since then
And I think that perhaps at last I know
What your look meant then.

The Watergaw (Scots version) by Hugh MacDiarmid

Ae weet forenicht i' the yow-trummle
I saw you antrin thing,
A watergaw we' its chitterin' light
Ayont the on-ding;
An' I thocht o' the last wild look ye gied
Afore ye deed!

There was nae reek i' the laverock's hoose
That nicht - an' nane i' mine;
But I hae thoct o' that foolish licht
Ever sin' syne;
An' I think that mebbe at last I ken
What your look meant then.

You can hear the man himself read his poem here - I think it is remarkable hearing the English version and comparing it with the beautiful lyricism of the Scots version.