2025 Chesapeake Mòd Highlight – Meet Addalyn Borghardt

Addalyn Borghardt achieved Air Leth Math honors at the 2025 Chesapeake Mòd in the Bàrdachd Ùr | Original Poetry category, with her poem, An t-Earrach.

Addalyn lives in Frederick County where she is the farm manager for her family’s farm, where they raise goats, sheep, and chickens. Many of our cèilidhean are held at their farm.

Addalyn will be in the Intermediate 2 class this year. If you have visited our Language Village at Mid-Atlantic area festivals you may well have met her as she and her family have become regular Language Village volunteers.

Tha sinn a’ cur meal-a-naidheachd mhòr gu Addalyn!

An t-Earrach

le Addalyn Borghardt

Mar a bhios na speuran glasa ‘s na làithean reòta a’ falbh,

tha na flùraichean ag èirigh bho na leapannan blàtha

agus plaideachan cofhurtail aca gun chùram.

chan eil an t-eagal orra gun till an reòthadh.

putaidh iad tron talamh,

tha iad a’ gabhail tlachd às a’ ghrèin.

tha eòlas aig na flùraichean ciamar a bhios iad a’ tighinn beò ‘s a’ fàs.

agus s’ dòcha gu bheil iad a’ togail an cinn ro thràth,

is ma dh’fhaoidte gun toir an reòthadh greim asta.

ach nan gabhadh na flùraichean eagal ron reòthadh,

cha bhiomaid gam faicinn a-riamh,

agus cha bhiomaid a’ faicinn an dòchais a bheir iad,

agus cha b’ iad a bhios a’ faireachdainn na grèine air an aodainnean a-chaoidh.

(English translation)

The Spring

As the grey skies and freezing days fade,

the flowers are emerging from their warm beds

and comfortable blankets without care.

they do not fear that frost will return.

they push through the soil,

taking delight from the sun.

they know how to live and grow.

and perhaps they are coming too soon,

and perhaps they will be bitten (by frost).

but if flowers lived in fear of frost,

we would never see them,

or the hope they bring,

and they would never feel the sun on their faces.