Elissa Hunter-Dorans
Introduction
Elissa Hunter-Dorans is a writer and artist from the Highlands, writing in Gaelic and English. She was the Scottish Poetry Library’s first Next Generation Young Makar for Gaelic poetry, and she has performed at the Dandelion Festival, StAnza, and The Edinburgh Fringe.
Elissa was recently awarded the Julia Budenz Commemorative Prize for Gaelic poetry. She is president of Edinburgh University’s Folk and Traditional Music Society, where she is currently studying History of Art. She has collaborated with the Royal National Mòd and Fèisean nan Gàidheal, and has a fascination with religious and folk visual culture.
A’ Chathair Fhalamh (Extract)
B’ e Oidhche Challainn a bh’ ann ann an Inbhir Nis air an oidhche mu dheireadh de na Seachdadan. Bha an taigh-baile Bhictòrianach a’ cuisleachadh le rong - mar bhreacan fighte de dh’fhuaimean a bha dearg, is uaine, is òrdha. Fìdhlean a’ seinn a-mach an ruidhleachan-seanmhar, bòtannan a’ bualadh duslaich bhon làr fhiodha gus ruitheam a chumail, agus guthan mar cheò ann an sèist chlabarach. Ann am meadhan an tulgaidh shuidh cathair fhalamh. Bha i sàmhach agus gun ghluasad, fear-faire na h-oidhche ann am fiodha agus leathar. Cha robh duine deònach a làimhseachadh, no suidhe innte. B’ i mo sheanmhair a chuir ann i, mar a rinn i gach Oidhche Challainn. Fàgaidh sinn cathair dhan Eaglais Shaoir, thuirt i a h-uile bliadhna. Cha robh fios againn dè idir a bha i a’ ciallachadh, ach leig sinn leatha cumail oirre mar a thogradh i.
Rinn sinn dannsa timcheall air a’ chathair, a’ dèanamh fealla-dhà. “Tha mi teagmhach nach tig i am-bliadhna,” rinn mo mhàthair gàire, le lasan a’ fàs na gruaidhean. “Ach chan urrainn dhuinn a bhith cinnteach, an urrainn?”
[…]
Listen:
Listen in all four languages. This freely-available audio has been made possible with the generous support of Creative Scotland.
收聽四種語言版本。此免費音訊由Creative Scotland（蘇格蘭創意機構）慷慨資助，得以實現。
A’ Chathair Fhalamh (Gàidhlig), read by Elissa Hunter-Dorans.
The Empty Chair (English), translated by Lisa MacDonald, read by Lisa MacDonald.
空椅 (華語), translated by Shengchi Hsu (許勝吉), read by Shengchi Hsu.
Khang í-á / 空椅仔 (Tâi-gí / 台語), translated by Kiú-kiong (玖芎), read by Kiú-kiong.
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