"The Mystery"

I

 am the Wind 

which

 breathes upon the Sea,

I am the Wave of the Ocean,

I am the Murmur of the Billows,

I am the Ox of the Seven Combats,

I am the Vulture upon the Rocks,

I am the Beam of the Sun,

I am the Fairest of Plants,

I am a Wild Boar in Valour,

I am a Salmon in the Water,

I am a Lake in the Plain,

I am a Word of Science,

I am the Point of the Lance of Battle,

I am the God who Created in the Head of the Fire.

Who is it that throws Light into the Meeting on the Mountain?

Who announces the Ages of the Moon?

Who Teaches the Place where couches the Sun?

(If not I)

 

~ Amergin*

Translation by Douglas Hyde

~ Beannaichte'

26 September, 2019

* Amergin was a Milesian prince or druid who settled in Ireland hundreds of years before Christ

and is from the Leabhar Gubhala or ' Book of Invasions'.  He is considered one of Ireland 's earliest poets, 

and 'The Mystery ' is attributed as the first Irish poem. 

"Bareback Pantoum"

                         One Night,          

      bareback and young, we rode through the woods

      and the woods were on Fire-

      two borrowed Horses, two local boys

      whose waist we clung to, my sister and I,

     

     

     and the woods were on Fire-

     the pounding of hooves and the smell of smoke

     and the sharp sweat of the boys

     whose waist we clung to, my sister and I

     as we rode toward Flame with the Sky in our

     mouths

     the pounding of hooves and the smell of smoke

     and the sharp sweat of the boys

     and the Heart saying: mine 

     as we rode toward Flame with the Sky in our

     mouths-

     the Trees turning gold, then crimson, white

     and the Heart saying: mine

     of the Wild, Bright world;

     the Trees turning gold, then crimson, white

     as they Burned in the Darkness, and we were the

     girls

    

     of the Wild, Bright world

     through the Woods near our house-we could turn, see
     the

     Lights

     and they Burned in the Darkness, and we were the

     girls

     so we rode just to ride

     

     

     through the Woods near our house-we could turn,

     see the Lights-

     and the Horses would carry us, carry us home

     so we rode just to ride

     my sister and I, just to be close to the Danger of

     Love

     and the Horses would carry us, carry us home

     -two borrowed horses, two local boys,

     my sister and I- just to be close to that Danger,

     Desire-

     one night, bareback and young, we rode through the

     woods. 

from  New Letters

  by Cecilia Woloch  

~ Beannaichte'

13 September, 2019

@beannaichte.twitter.com 

"Litany"

 

You are the bread and the knife,

the crystal goblet and the wine.

You are the dew on the morning grass

and the burning wheel of the sun.

You are the white apron of the baker

and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.

However, you are not the wind in the orchard,

the plums on the counter,

or the house of cards.

And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.

There is no way you are the pine-scented air.
 

It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,

maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,

but you are not even close 

to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.

And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither the boots in the corner
nor the boat asleep in the boathouse.


It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I am the sound of rain upon the roof.


I also happen to be the shooting star,
the evening paper blowing down the alley,
and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.


I am also the moon in the trees
and the blind woman's tea cup.
But don't worry, I am not  the bread and the knife.
You are still the bread and the knife.
You will always be the bread and the knife,
not to mention the crystal goblet and -  somehow -  the wine.

~ Billy Collins
U.S.A.

20 August, 2019

~ Beannaichte'

@beannaichte.twitter.com  

"Brother Warrior"

Gentle Warrior

With your Heart like Gold and a Rainbow in

 your eyes

Brave Companion

Do you see a World shining in the Sky?

With your Body dancing like an Arrow

Spreading Joy beneath your feet

And your Hands that wave like tall Grass

In the Wind as you speak.

 

With the Shyness of a small Child

And the Wisdom of a Saint

I tell you, now

There is no Reason to be afraid.

Brother Warrior

There are None of us who Walk  this Path, alone

Spirit Healer is the only Life that we have ever 

known 

I see your Smile in the Sunlight

I hear your Song in the Rain

And I Hold you here, inside me

I Feel your Love and know your Pain.

At this Time, when the Earth is Waking

To the Dawn of another Age

I tell you, now

There is no Reason to be afraid.

We  are Crying for a Vision

That all Living things can Share

And those who Care 

~ Are with us -

 Everywhere.

~ Kate Wolf

U.S.A.

~ Beannaichte'

 24 July, 2019

@beannaichte.twitter.com 

I'll Walk Beside You -- Cherish the Ladies

"Remember"

~ Always Remember to forget,

The things that made you sad;

But never forget to Remember,

The things that made you glad. 

~ Always Remember to forget,

The friends that proved untrue;

But don't forget to Remember;

Those that have stuck by you. 

~ Always Remember to forget,

The troubles that passed your way;
But never forget to Remember,

The Blessings that come each day.

~ An Irish Blessing
23 June, 2019 

beannaichte@twitter.com

"May"...

May

the Stars

Carry Your Sadness Away. . .

May Hope Forever

Dry Away Your

Tears. . .

And,

Above All,

May

Silence

Make

You

Strong.

~ Chief Dan George

U.S.A.

~ Beannaichte'

3 June, 2019

beannaichte@twitter.com