Chì Mi: The Gaelic Poetry of Donald John MacDonald

by Dòmhnall Iain MacDhòmhnaill, Donald John MacDonald, Bill Innes (Editor)

A collection of the works of Donald John MacDonald's Gaelic poetry with English translation, notes, and an introduction. The poet was brought up in a poor community but within a heavily Gaelic tradition and culture. He was a crofter for most of his life, and spent much of his time collecting folklore. Much of his inspiration came while working in the fields of his farm, and he wrote about love in many forms: the love of a woman, of the land and its history, and of God.

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Dòmhnall Iain MacDhòmhnaill (Donald John Macdonald) (1919 - 1986) was a Scottish Gaelic poet. His father was the famous seanchaidh Duncan MacDonald, some of whose long heroic tales were published by K.C. Craig in 1944.

Dòmhnall Iain's experiences as a soldier in the Second World War, and particularly the privations he endured as a prisoner of war from 1940 to 1945, are described in his book Fo Sgàil a’ Swastika (‘Under the Shadow of the Swastika’).

He, won the Bardic Crown at the National Mod in 1948 and was awarded the Ailsa Trophy. His first book of poems, Sguaban Eorna (‘Sheaves of Barley’), appeared in 1973. Bill Innes, a friend and neighbour, brought up beside the poet, brought together the collected poems, first published under the title Chì Mi ('I See') in 1998.