MenoSundays: Life Lived Lovingly

A Scottish Gaelic hymn for you today, made famous by a group who made their final tour this year... translation below, with thanks to The Wonderful Channel.

THE HIGHEST APPLE

Comhla rium A tha thu an drasd Mo shuilean duinte, mo chuimhne dan Nam sheasamh a' coimhead Gach cnoc is gach traigh Is an siol a dh'fhag thu ann a 'fas Tha an garradh lan Le craobhan treun Le meas a' fas dhuinn ann ri bhuain Ubhlan abaich Milis geur Ach tha aon ubhal nach ruig sinn idir air Is co 'nar measg A mhaireas la Seachad air am is air oidhche fhein A liuthad uair A shreap mi suas Airson an ubhal as airde chur gu beul Seididh gaoth is dearrsaidh grian Tro mheas nan craobhan lin gu lin Ach thig an la is thig an t-am Airson an ubhal as airde Air a' chraobh a bhuain

At present All you were is with me My eyes closed, my memory confident  Standing here watching Each hill and shoreline With the seed you left Still growing The garden is well stocked With mighty trees With fruit growing for the whole world Ripe, sweet And bitter apples And the one apple That is beyond reach Who amongst us Can exist a single day Beyond our own time and our own limits  Countless and futile Are times I've climbed To reach and taste The forbidden fruit The winds will blow And the sun will shine From generation to generation Through the trees of the garden But the day and the hour Will surely come To take the highest apple From the knowledge tree