Re: The Culdee

[Guest guest]

The Culdee

Yes, but I saved the rain for you

and the stones sentinel by Clogherhead

minikin mosses hidden to the long north light

coral roseate secrets

so articulate

only a cramped heart would notice

yes, and the grey wet of wind along sea cream beaches

the swinging sighs of clouds

dung hanging at the back of the cows

the beehive huts of the saints of lichen and turf

up in the bracken's supercession of

the five flapping towels of Liam Doherty's wife

her palimpsests of patience

I paid the price in every sense

to climb pathless through the nettles

to sit stung in the empty doorway

of a soul fled fourteen hundred years

I conjured the Tir nan Og -

was he, the culdee, walking those Isles of the Blessed

now on young sensuous naked feet

bearing the stigmata of an earthly life

which nails us all?

I breathed deep the salt air

a coarse benediction of aseptic tears

and sought for a streak of sun among the unfolded fronds -

where were his prayers?

Dominus vobiscum my ancient, my most ubiquitous love!

yes, I prayed for emptiness

and that no one would go so lonely

a stray gannet answered -

out of the mists over to the Blaskets

it came shearing, plummeting

to the stretched and veined waters

it folded its wings

and simply disappeared.

a. o. howell

[Guest guest]

Alice,

Once again you grace us with such loveliness.I read your poem; was

moved and then went to the dictionary. My first search was on the

Culdee. Then brachens,supercession,palimpsests. Tir nam Og and

Blaskets I didn't find, but still, I have the picture and the

loveliness grew. Thank you.

Betty