Poems to Eimhir

English versions of Love poems by the Gaelic Poet Sorley Maclean translated Iain Crichton Smith, The original Gaelic title "Dain Do Eimhir" was published in 1943.

 

The sequence of 48 Poems were written during the 1930s and addressed to the "Eimhir" or symbolic love.  The  poems are both a lament for lost love and opportunity. The collection blends personal emotion with political commentary, reflecting MacLean’s experiences in the Spanish Civil War and World War II.

A fine clean copy of this 1st Edition with original unclipped dustcover. Clean pages throughout. There is a previous owner name in ink on inside end-paper.

 

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Sorley MacLean (Somhairle MacGill-Eain, 1911–1996) was one of Scotland’s most significant 20th-century poets and a central figure in the modern Gaelic literary renaissance. Born in Osgaig, Raasay, an island off the coast of Skye, MacLean grew up in a Gaelic-speaking community rich in oral traditions. His deep connection to Gaelic culture, combined with his political awareness and modernist sensibilities, shaped his groundbreaking poetry.

Early Life and Education

MacLean was raised in a family steeped in Highland history and folklore. He attended Portree High School on Skye and later studied English at the University of Edinburgh, where he was introduced to European literature and modernist poetry. These influences, alongside his reading of Marxist and socialist philosophy, significantly impacted his work.

Literary Career

MacLean began writing poetry in Gaelic in the 1930s, a period when the language was in decline. His work infused traditional Gaelic forms with modernist techniques and themes, addressing universal issues of war, love, politics, and the human condition.

Key literary works include:

• “Dàin do Eimhir” (Poems to Eimhir, 1943)
  This groundbreaking collection, considered his masterpiece, explores themes of love, war, and national identity. The poems are written as a cycle addressed to "Eimhir," a symbolic figure representing unattainable love and lost ideals. The collection blends personal emotion with political commentary, reflecting MacLean’s experiences in the Spanish Civil War and World War II.

• “An Cuilithionn” (The Cuillin, written in the 1930s but published posthumously in 1989)
  A long, unfinished epic poem, it examines the history of Scotland, particularly the Highland Clearances, and critiques both capitalism and imperialism. It uses the Cuillin mountains of Skye as a central metaphor for resilience and struggle.

• “Reothairt is Contraigh” (Spring Tide and Neap Tide, 1977)
  This collection solidified MacLean’s reputation as a modern literary giant. It includes poems that reflect on themes such as love, nature, and Scotland’s socio-political landscape.

• “O Choille gu Bearradh” (From Wood to Ridge, 1989)
  A bilingual collection showcasing his mastery of both Gaelic and English, it brought his work to a broader audience.

• “Collected Poems” (1999)
  Published posthumously, this volume brought together MacLean's life’s work, ensuring his lasting influence.

Themes and Style

MacLean’s poetry often juxtaposes the personal with the political, drawing on the landscapes of his native Highlands and Islands as metaphors for human suffering and resilience. His use of Gaelic was both an artistic choice and a political act, asserting the language’s vitality and relevance in modern literature.

Legacy

MacLean received numerous accolades during his lifetime, including being named the first Scottish Arts Council Fellow in Creative Writing. His work has been translated into many languages, ensuring his influence far beyond Scotland.

Sorley MacLean’s poetry not only revitalized Gaelic literature but also bridged the gap between traditional Scottish culture and contemporary global concerns. He is remembered as a literary giant who gave voice to a language and people often marginalized in modern history.