Hungry
there is another
side to you
goddess saint
of our inspiration
your mouth that
blew battle pipes
your earth that
parted to swallow
the offered
black-fringed fowl
smother her at
the place
where three
streams meet
we have ways to
ken such things
dark forces of
death of letting go
smear of decay
from which new
life unfurls
recognition of
what our wills
cannot escape
or even
our own grim
aspects taking root
regardless
don’t think I haven’t
seen
this bruise-blue
visage Brigit
these hungry teeth
ready to snap in two
our pretty dreams
of you
Note: The sacrifice of a fowl was sometimes practised if a family believed they had not received Saint Brigit’s blessing on Óiche Fhéile Bhríde (Carmichael Carmina Gadelica I, pg. 169).
Image: "A honest look at the pain of mental illness." Photo by Kat J on Unsplash.
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