“Divine Cow” by Mael Brigde

Divine Cow

luminous white the cow who nursed you

when taken from your mother’s breast

ears of silken red   eyes of warm pitch

called from the Land of Youth

by the clear-sighted druid

the sweet cow’s milk the only food

you could endure

was the land below his dwelling

alive with crying mists

as she trod the hillside’s quickened flanks

in answer

had the sidhe-mound quivered with new light

when you dropped to the druid’s threshold

your mother’s knees resounding

one on rush-strewn floor

one on naked earth without

did the cow then lift her large

and thoughtful ears

so far away and listen for your cry

Copyright: Mael Brigde, 2015.

Image: J. West Cattle Company.