A blogger’s (silent) poetry reading

Posted by on Friday, February 1st, 2008

This is one of the best annual traditions in the blogosphere.   I’ve been thinking of ancient poetry and myth a lot lately, because I need to get to work on some new translations.   Etaine got all smarty-pants on us, like she does, and came up with a great name for our Bardic Trio.  Swag and website to come.  In the meantime–read, well, some of the oldest extant Celtic poetry there is. 

Song of Amergin
    by Amergin, Translated by Robert Graves

I am a stag: of seven tines,
I am a flood: across a plain,
I am a wind: on a deep lake,
I am a tear: the Sun lets fall,
I am a hawk: above the cliff,
I am a thorn: beneath the nail,
I am a wonder: among flowers,
I am a wizard: who but I
Sets the cool head aflame with smoke?

I am a spear: that roars for blood,
I am a salmon: in a pool,
I am a lure: from paradise,
I am a hill: where poets walk,
I am a boar: ruthless and red,
I am a breaker: threatening doom,
I am a tide: that drags to death,
I am an infant: who but I
Peeps from the unhewn dolmen, arch?

I am the womb: of every holt,
I am the blaze: on every hill,
I am the queen: of every hive,
I am the shield: for every head,
I am the tomb: of every hope.

Filed in Books,Celtic,wool poems | 6 responses so far

6 Responses to “A blogger’s (silent) poetry reading”

  1. Janeon 31 Jan 2008 at 7:58 am 1

    Goosebumps here.

  2. Rachelon 01 Feb 2008 at 10:52 am 2

    Ooh, I like it.

    Can’t wait to find out the name, and see the swag. I love swag.

  3. kon 02 Feb 2008 at 6:46 pm 3

    I have news for you:
    The stag bells, winter snows, summer has gone
    Wind high and cold, the sun low short its course, the sea running high
    Deep red the bracken, its shape is lost; the wild goose has raised its accustomed cry.
    Cold has seized the birds’ wings; season of ice, this is my news.

    Ireland, 9th century A.D.

  4. laneaon 05 Feb 2008 at 8:02 am 4

    Beutiful, K. I love that poem.

  5. melanieon 05 Feb 2008 at 9:38 am 5

    Goosebumps here, too – I can feel the wisdom across the ages.

  6. Jon Campbellon 23 Feb 2008 at 1:48 pm 6

    That was a very cool poem. I love how you described all the different things that you were, like a spear and a salmon because you were able to visualize the images as you wanted to. I would love to post this poem on my poetry website with your permission. Thanks. Peace

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