An Dàn CD Lyrics

T5: Eadar-Thìr (Between-Land)

Mary Ann Kennedy

“Between the two: the edge of creation and heart of the world”

When I wrote this song, I had never visited Iona, and had only ever looked over to its flat, rocky outline from Tiree and Mull. But I was drawn to it time and again, from my first encounters with the Iona Community during my work on ‘Lasair Dhè’ (a reimagining of Gaelic psalm traditions), to conversations with another atheist friend who nevertheless saw something out of the ordinary about the island.

At the time of writing these notes, I am the guest of the Corrymeela community in Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, sister haven to the Iona Community in Scotland - another special place and people. And I have visited the thin place. 

T5: Eadar-Thìr

Màiri Anna NicUalraig

“Eadar na dhà, eadar na dhà, còrsa cruthaidheachd, eadar na dhà;
Eadar na dhà, eadar na dhà, ’s cridhe saoghail, eadar na dhà.”

Bha mi air mo bheò-glacadh gu seachd àraid le beachd Sheòrais MhicLeòid air gur e àite ‘tana’ a bha ann an Ìdhe, eadar an saoghal spioradail agus an domhan mun cuairt oirnn. Bha mi ag amas air rud a sgrìobhadh a bha ag aithneachadh an eadar-dhà-shaoghal seo gun a bhi air chuingealachadh le feallsanachd no creideas àraid sam bith.

Às an seo, coimhead gu siar -
faileas àite, fiamh eilein,
a’ sialladh às rè laighe grèin’;
chan ioghnadh ged a bheireadh oirre:

sgàile ceòtha eadar domhan is speur
 gu cladach eadar muir is tìr;
sròl fìnealt’ eadar beatha ’s eile
 do chrìch nach eil fhathast na crìch.

Ann an solas grèine glòir,
Cha ghàrradh is cha chaol-bhalla,
Chan oirthir ach tìr an òir
’S caolas mara ’s ceum a-mhàin tro

Sèist

Eadar na dhà, eadar na dhà,
Còrsa cruthaidheachd, eadar na dhà;
Eadar na dhà, eadar na dhà,
’S cridhe saoghail, eadar na dhà.

Iomallachd nach eil na iomall,
Cala turais seach ceann-uidhe;
Clach-ceangail drochaid, cabhsair rèidh
Air an gabh sinn uile ceum gu

Sèist

Looking west from here -
to a shadow of a place, a suggestion of island, 
dissolving in the dipping sun,
no wonder it be called

a mist veil between world and sky
to a shore between land and sea;
a silk’s thickness between life and other,
a border/end that is no end.

In glorious sunlight,
there is no barrier, there are no walls
no coastline but golden land,
a strait needing but one step through...
Chorus

Between the two:
the edge of creation
and heart of the world

 

Outland not yet on the edge,
a port of call, not destination
bridge’s keystone, a safe causeway
for all to step on to

Chorus