20/03/2006

Tha sinn fhathast a’ toirt sùil air rannan. Rannan cloinne. Tha iad anns an leabhar “Air do bhonnagan a ghaoil”. Nochd an leabhar sin an-uiridh. Seo rann air a bheil an t-ainm “Deich Balaich Bheaga Dhubha”. Tha sin a’ ciallachadh “ten small black-haired boys”. Ach mar a chì sinn, chan eil deich ann aig an deireadh:

Deich Balaich Bheaga Dhubha

Nan suidhe muigh air being –

Thug an starrag leatha Seoc

’S cha robh ann ach naoi.

Naoi balaich bheaga dhubha

Nan suidhe muigh air tobht’ –

Thuit Fionn tro tholl nan cearc

’S cha robh ann ach ochd.

Ochd balaich bheaga dhubha

Ag iasgach le slait –

Ghoid na giomaich Fearchar

’S cha robh ann ach seachd.

Seachd balaich bheaga dhubha

Nan suidhe ’g ithe ’m biadh –

Thachd buntàta Coinneach crost

’S cha robh ann ach sia.

Sia balaich bheaga dhubha

A’ cur a-steach an fheòir –

Thuit a’ chruach air Ùisdean beag

’S cha robh ann ach còig.

Còig balaich bheaga dhubha

A’ seòladh ann an eathar

Shluig muc-mhara Donnchadh

’S cha robh ann ach ceithir.

Ceithir balaich bheaga dhubha

Nan cadal leis an sgìths –

Thuit Raghnall tron an leabaidh

’S cha robh ann ach trì.

Trì balaich bheaga dhubha

Ag ithe mìr is càis –

“Mar sin leibh,” thuirt Alasdair

’S cha robh ann ach dhà.

Dà bhalach bheag dhubh

A’ toirt a-steach a’ bhùirn –

Thuit Eachann dhan an tobair

’S cha robh ann ach aon.

Aon bhalach beag dubh

Na sheasamh ’s car na cheann –

Ruith esan a dh’Ameireagaidh

’S cha robh ’n còrr ann.

’S e deagh rann a th’ ann, nach e? Tha e math do chloinn. Tha e math mar gheama. Seo an rann a-rithist. Cuimhnichibh gu bheil an leabhar anns na bùthan.

Deich Balaich Bheaga Dhubha etc…

Faclan is abairtean: tha sinn fhathast a’ toirt sùil air: we are still looking at; rannan cloinne: nursery rhymes; nochd an leabhar sin an-uiridh: that book appeared last year; mar a chì sinn: as we shall see; chan eil deich ann aig an deireadh: there are not ten there at the end; nan suidhe [a-]muigh air being: sitting outside on a bench; thug an starrag leatha Seoc: the crow took Jock with her; ’s cha robh ann ach naoi: [then] there were only nine; tobht[a]: rùin; thuit Fionn tro tholl nan cearc: Fionn fell through the hens’ hole; ag iasgach le slait: fishing with rods; ghoid na giomaich Fearchar: the lobsters stole Farquhar; ag ithe am biadh: eating their food; thachd buntàta Coinneach crost: a potato choked irritable Kenny; a’ cur a-steach an fheòir: bringing in the hay; thuit a’ chruach air Ùisdean beag: the haystack fell on little Hugh; a’ seòladh ann an eathar: sailing in a boat; shluig muc-mhara Donnchadh: a whale swallowed Duncan; nan cadal leis an sgìths: sleeping with [the] weariness; thuit Raghnall tron an leabaidh: Ronald fell through the bed; ag ithe mìr is càis: eating bread and cheese; mar sin leibh: cheerio; a’ toirt a-steach a’ bhùirn: bringing in the water; thuit Eachann dhan an tobair: Hector fell into the well; ruith esan a dh’Ameireagaidh: he ràn [off] to America; ’s cha robh ’n còrr ann: and there were none left; ’s e deagh rann a th’ ann, nach e?: it’s a good verse, is it not?; cuimhnichibh gu bheil an leabhar anns na bùthan: remember that the book is in the shops.