amergin

Song of Amergin
A Round of the Year

Translated from the Celtic by Robert Graves and Chris Carol.

INTROITUS:

Gone is our history, burned to ashes;
Our poetry forgotten as time passes;
Return deep memory, root of our dissension;
Nurture the tree of present invention.,

Gone are our dignities, gone our powers;
Once in freedom we blossomed as wild flowers;
Life moved among us, like a loving mother;
Sharing her wisdom, we care for one another.

Without our mother, how shall we start living?
Without our mother, how shall we seek beauty?
Without our mother, how shall we die peaceful?
Without our mother, how shall we be reborn?

Beth-Birch: December

I AM A STAG OF SEVEN TINES

Welcome, welcome, welcome all ye here;
Welcome, welcome, welcome in the year.
Dark is the night and chill the winter wind,
Crisp the snow on the barren furrow;
Bring in the Yule Log, make the fire bright,
We shall wish for a warm tomorrow.

Over the fire the branches dangle,
Of holly bright that is King tonight;
Red is the berry, green the prickle,
The sacred mistletoe glowing white.

Now we may feast and pass the Wassail Cup,
Sing the ballad with joy and mirth,
Soon we shall sleep and dream the night away,
Gathering Strength for Spring's rebirth.

On the earth, on the air,
Through the fire, by the water,
I am STRENGTH, the first month's daughter.

January

Luis - Rowan

I AM A LAKE ON THE PLAIN

All on a plain there stands a lake.
A magic mirror doth it make;
And gathered on a wintry night,
Ye may behold a wondrous sight.

For in that lake reflected are
The Lady Moon and the Morning Star
Across the sky they journey on,
And to her son she sings this song.

Cradled in my loving arm,
Your dream unmarred by fear of harm,
Swift be your ride in the heavenly Boat,
As on the Milky Way we float.

Where turns the Crown of the Northern Wind
A silver island shall you find
And on that isle a castle white
Wherein is peace and calm delight.

Inside that castle's silver wall,
There stands a dark majestic hall,
And in that hall a Lady fair,
The end of all desire is there.

So slumber deep thou Heavenly Twin,
And so the journey soon begin;
For they who in Lobe's flames will die,
Shall rise again, I promise thee.

On the earth, in the air,
Through the fire, by the water,
I am BREADTH, the second month's daughter.

February

Nion - Ash

I AM A WIND OF THE SEA

In the moonlight, the crystal bright
Of our names is glowing clear;
Dragon stones stand alone
On the sand as we draw near...
Wave on wave, wave on wave,
Wave on wave of the sea mares rave,
Tides are high as we ride by,
Embrace the tide and with the sea mares ride.

Foaming, frothing at maddened mouth,
Hooves churning in the brine,
Tails flailing, ranting, raving,
We gather line on line.
Wave on wave, wave on wave,
Wave on wave of the sea mares rave.
At the spring tide, swell with pride,
Embrace the tide and with the sea mares ride.
Mighty now, we two must bow
To Time's mightier hand;
Comes the ebb tide, we subside,
And graze te golden sand...
Wave on wave, wave on wave,
Wave on wave of the sea mares graze;
One and all heed Rhiannon's call,
Embrace the tide and with the sea mares ride.

On the earth, in the air,
Through the fire, by the water,
I am DEPTH, the third month's daughter.

March

Fearn - Alder

I AM A TEAR OF THE SUN

Weep, weep for the sparkling stream,
Weep, weep for the great oak tree;
Weep, weep for the bright blue sky,
Weep for the memory.

Weep, weep for the sacred grove,
Weep, weep for the peaceful years;
Weep, weep for the fruitful field,
Weep for our present fears.

Weep, weep for the endless fight,
Weep, wep for the vengeance night;
Weep, weep now with all our might;
Weep for our birthright.

On the earth, in the air,
Through the fire, by the water,
I am CLARITY, the fourth month's daughter.

~The legend of the Rollright Stones~

Once there stood in this sacred place an alder grove, beside the stone circle. The alder buds spiralled on the twig in the dance of life; the flowers bursting green sang of the mystery of the waters; the red bark sang of the flames of fire; the brown twigs echoed the color of the earth...

~The circle now lies silent, each dewdrop a tear of the sun, sorrowing until the prophecy shall unfold...

~That when the labyris is laid to the altar and her blood is shed, then shall the King Stone move, and the dance begin anew.~

April

Saille - Willow

I AM A HAWK ON A CLIFF

I am a hawk on a cliff
Poised before the fray,
In the dance of death, dance of life,
The hunter and the prey.

Flashing feathered streak, wicked beak,
Swift as the eye can see,
Straining every nerve, downward swerve
In glorious artistry.

Bright the open sky is in my eye,
But blood is on my breath,
Thunder shakes the sky, as I fly,
In all of life is death.

On the earth, in the air,
Through the fire and water,
I am SKILL, the fifth month's daughter.

May

Uath - Hawthorn

I AM FAIR OF FLOWERS

I am fair of flowers,
Blossoming today,
Scent of women's sweetness,
Sprig of magic May.

Snowdrop white in beauty,
First of all the flowers,
Winter cannot bow thee,
Nor the darkness hours.

Sunlike shines the crocus,
In the lengthening hours,
Wind and rain caress thee,
Through the springtime showers.

Crimson bloom the roses,
Fragrant past belief,
Scent the summer breezes,
Bringing sweet relief.

Fairest of all the flowers,
Crown our roundelay,
Scent of women's sweetness
Spring of magic May.

On the earth, in the air,
Through the fire, by the water
I am BEAUTY, the six month's daughter.

June

Duir - Oak

I AM THE ONE WITH CROWN OF FIRE

She is awakening
(Magic is afoot)
She is arising;
She is dancing;
She is glowing;
She is radiant;
She is brilliant;
She is beauty;
(Turn back the wheel lest we burn)
She is splendor;
She is shining;
She is setting;
She is fading;
She is dying;
She is peaceful;
(Magic is afoot.)
On the earth, in the air
Through the fire, by the water,
I am MAGIC, the seventh month's daughter.

July

Tinne - Holly

I AM AN AVENGING SPEAR

I who heal may also hex,
The good enhance, the evil vex;
I am an avenging spear.

The rich and powerful know no fear,
Though the seasons change throughout the year;
But I'll speak up and make them hear;
I am an avenging spear.

For peace and love we ever yearn,
But some do wrong and never learn;
This time it won't be us that'll burn;
I am an avenging spear.

What goes up must soon come down,
So wipe your tears and mend your frown
Their time is up, go claim your crown,
I am an avenging spear.

On the earth, in the air,
Through the fire, by the water,
I am VENGEANCE, the eighth month's daughter.

August

Coll - Hazel

I AM SALMON IN A POOL

Swiftly flows the river
From the mountain to the sea,
The rapids as they flow
Teach me what they know
Of strength and grace and speed,
And flashing as I go
I ever learn and grow.

Gentely winds the river
Through the plain down to the sea;
The still and silent pool
Makes a wise one from a fool

With depth and calm and peace,
And flashing as I go
I ever learn and grow.

On the earth, in the air,
Through the fire, by the water,
I am KNOWLEDGE, the ninth month's daughter.

September

Muin - Vine

Hey the gift, Ho the gift,

Queen of the dawn, Queen of the clouds,
Queen of the planet, Queen of the star;
Queen of the rain, Queen of the dew,
Queen of the welkin, Queen of the sky;
Queen of the flame, Queen of the light,
Queen of the sphere, Queen of the glove;
Queen of the elements, Queen of the heavens,
Queens of the moon, Queen of the sun.

On the earth, in the air,
Through the fire, by the water,
I am ECSTASY, the tenth month's daughter.

October

Gort - Ivy

I AM A BOAR

I am a boar on this high place,
In the first fresh frost
On autumn's face;
The hunters calll to sound the chase
But I am bold
I will run this race.

For many moons we roamed this land,
When others fell
I learned to stand;
The old and great join in the dance
Courage and cunning are my inheritance.

On the earth, in the air,
Through the fire, by the water,
I am VALOR, the eleventh month's daughter.

November

Ngetal - Reed

I AM A SOUND OF THE SEA

Calmest cold of deepest deep;
sinuous swishing of sea snake sidling;
Baleful bark of sorrowing seal;
Shrill shrieking of temerous tern;
Bounding breaker on jagged rock.
On the earth, in the air,
Through the fire, by the water,
I AM TERROR, the twelfth month's daughter.

December

RUIS-Elder

I AM A WAVE OF THE SEA

I am a wave of the sea,
Roling on forever onward,
Gathering strength
Pausing for none.

Sunbeam riding on the ocean wave,
Firefly riding in the sky,
Amazon riding on the ocean beach,
Old moon rising up on high;
Everything is beautiful
In the earth and sea and starry sky
Old moon fades and young moon grows
Our life will never die.

On the earth, in the air,
Through the fire, by the water,
I am FLOWING, the last month's daughter.

ENDING

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 TO EVERY HEAD;
I AM THE TOMB TO EVERY HOPE;
BLESSED BE MY NAME.