An ancient poem.

[Joan]

Hi Everyone,

I was reading a book on Spiritual wisdom from the Celtic world, when I came across the following poem. Apparently this is traditionally believed to be the first poem ever composed in Ireland and was done so by Amairgen, chief poet of the Milesians, as he steps ashore to take possession of the land on behalf of his people:

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 a beam of the sun,
I am the fairest of plants,
I am the wild boar in valour,
I am the salmon in the water,
I am a lake in the plain,
I am a world of knowledge,
I am the point of the lance of battle,
I am the God who created the fire in the head.
( taken from 'Anam Cara'.)

All of the elements of the poem have numinous associations in early Irish literature. There is no dualism here. All is one. I am in everything and everything is in me.

Perhaps you all may have an ancient poem from your respective countries to share. I would love to read them.

Enjoy
Joan.

[lordcunni]

Welsh Poem

Welsh Landscape

To live in Wales is to be conscious
At dusk of the spilled blood
That went into the making of the wild sky,
Dyeing the immaculate rivers
In all their courses.
It is to be aware,
Above the noisy tractor
And hum of the machine
Of strife in the strung woods,
Vibrant with sped arrows.
You cannot live in the present,
At least not in Wales.
There is the language for instance,
The soft consonants
Strange to the ear.
There are cries in the dark at night
As owls answer the moon,
And thick ambush of shadows,
Hushed at the fields' corners.
There is no present in Wales,
And no future;
There is only the past,
Brittle with relics,
Wind-bitten towers and castles
With sham ghosts;
Mouldering quarries and mines;
And an impotent people,
Sick with inbreeding,
Worrying the carcase of an old song.

R S Thomas (1913 - 2000)

Said to be the greatest modern Welsh poet. I haven't found any translations of ancient Welsh poetry that I like, so here's a little R S Thomas! Bleaker than Dylan, but much more meaningful.

http://www.ballinagree.freeservers.com/failte2.html

Translations of Irish/Welsh/German poetry/literature available from Barry's website (an award winning translator and Irishman living in Cardiff, whom I am friendly with).

Lord Cunni (aka Phil H)

[Joan]

Hi Phil,

Nice to see you back

Thanks for the poem and website.

Are those typical thoughts of Welsh people? or of just R S Thomas?

Would love to read more from other members

Smile from the Heart
Joan