Religion

The Cross of the Saints and the Angels

by Anonymous (Scottish Gaelic) traditional; collected in the Highlands and Islands 1855–1899

Translated by Alexander Carmichael (1900) · From Carmina Gadelica, vol. I (1900): Invocations

Religion

The cross of the saints and of the angels with me
From the top of my face to the edge of my soles.

* * * * * *

O Michael mild, O Mary of glory,
O gentle Bride of the locks of gold,
Preserve ye me in the weakly body,
The three preserve me on the just path.
Oh! three preserve me on the just path.

Preserve ye me in the soul-shrine poor,
Preserve ye me, and I so weak and naked,
Preserve ye me without offence on the way,
The preservation of the three upon me to-night.
Oh! the three to shield me to-night.

✦ ✦ ✦

Gaelic: Crois Nan Naomh Agus Nan Aingeal. Carmina Gadelica I, no. 17, Invocations.

MLA

Anonymous (Scottish Gaelic). “The Cross of the Saints and the Angels.” Translated by Alexander Carmichael. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-scottish-gaelic/16/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Scottish Gaelic). “The Cross of the Saints and the Angels.” Translated by Alexander Carmichael. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-scottish-gaelic/16/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Anonymous (Scottish Gaelic)