tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26875708421083016632024-03-22T02:27:14.315-07:00Stone on the BellyMael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-78170915620131695282024-03-22T02:25:00.000-07:002024-03-22T02:26:43.454-07:00"Holy Water, Sacred Flame" by Circle of the Sun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG31vYDxzDLhLi6kZ7V-yujEr5OR8M59PMuhvNybnIGW2aw_EBMHH18YcG0yUgoLCenLX4h0ZnNyXd7FFDfuwsICTrZCela8PtMiwrMeUK0UHezRIONFt6esURbyPSXZLDSWf56DvNPiaGUUTe3cU_eXIcHKAPeNKCd_JdFWl-1PG_aX6E6GIf_Qs_8Q/s700/Circle%20of%20the%20Sun.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG31vYDxzDLhLi6kZ7V-yujEr5OR8M59PMuhvNybnIGW2aw_EBMHH18YcG0yUgoLCenLX4h0ZnNyXd7FFDfuwsICTrZCela8PtMiwrMeUK0UHezRIONFt6esURbyPSXZLDSWf56DvNPiaGUUTe3cU_eXIcHKAPeNKCd_JdFWl-1PG_aX6E6GIf_Qs_8Q/s320/Circle%20of%20the%20Sun.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This lovely short chant, beautifully sung as a “round,” is available as a free download on Bandcamp. </p><p>"<a href="https://circleofthesun1.bandcamp.com/track/holy-water-sacred-flame-brigid-song-w-diane-baker-m-anne-hill" target="_blank">Holy Water, Sacred Flame</a>" by Circle of the Sun is also available to listen to from Anne Hill on YouTube in a more elaborate, twentieth anniversary, version, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCI1L3PPpOg" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><br /></p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><i>Lyrics</i>:</p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>Holy Water, Sacred Flame,</p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>Brighid, we invoke your name. </p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>Bless my hands, </p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>my head, my heart, </p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>source of healing, song, and art.</p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><u style="font-style: italic;">Notes</u>: Words by Diane Baker and music by Anne Hill.</p><p><u style="font-style: italic;">Image</u>: from the Bandcamp site of Circle of the Sun. </p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-22032186147457723532024-03-09T18:26:00.000-08:002024-03-09T18:26:21.339-08:00"For the River” by Mael Brigde<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/HThlBKi0Rsc?si=D4uwcS5ovFHGvjJJ" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A very very very short song to Brigit that I end most of my meditations and rituals with. I sing it twice here so that you can get an idea of the melody the first time and then jump in the second time.
I wrote it many years ago and still feel this gratitude deeply. Brigit is not named in the song so you could use it with other deities if it felt appropriate to you.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For the River</span></b></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I thank you for the river that flows far from sunlight</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for the hidden opening of that stream</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for the sacred grove that rises from those waters</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for the sacred wisdom pouring from those leaves</span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard, serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard, serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></blockquote></blockquote><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Video</u>: of Mael Brigde singing at Daughters of the Flame online gathering.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-2228118513312140642024-02-29T13:44:00.000-08:002024-02-29T13:44:00.164-08:00"Poem for Brigid" by Aed Dubh<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3jwC8NmGExphtDYr-QNDuUZufGJb6PjfebodP12-32cdi9eb6-2xZZ-n2CTL0sv5d6mmiYmNxahZ2k03dXmOA7UcramJGuDR4-l-76arsFVYFhigIWsLxfERqFDllfi4ak_qF6KvPsUlQhl9AvTmufQGEG4SuhBkios-cy8SiT5VTeRUHIjnVme2zFI/s4896/DSC04033.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3jwC8NmGExphtDYr-QNDuUZufGJb6PjfebodP12-32cdi9eb6-2xZZ-n2CTL0sv5d6mmiYmNxahZ2k03dXmOA7UcramJGuDR4-l-76arsFVYFhigIWsLxfERqFDllfi4ak_qF6KvPsUlQhl9AvTmufQGEG4SuhBkios-cy8SiT5VTeRUHIjnVme2zFI/w400-h300/DSC04033.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Poem
for Brigid</span></b></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">aeddubh</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">For
Brigid</span></i></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My
feet still in the well, cool shock of yesterday,</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
look to the candle, let open my head, my heart,</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My
hands, then begin. It is years since I first</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Reached
out (hesitant? hubristical? hopeful</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
hope, and certainly teetered between</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Extremes),
and the worn steps still lead down</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Into
cool clearness, scent of moss and old</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Stone
and clean depths; spark-bright and</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Ember-dusky
petals still fall from</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
rose dancing in the hearth, on the wick;</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Forms
still elaborate, fractally implied and</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Impelled
by tiny and mighty forces at play.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">it
is Her mantle I saw first, silver river,</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">All
the shining things about Her, bright</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">As
Her eyes, Her smile, the fire</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">She
cradles in Her hands, that surrounds Her.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
Flame of an idea</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
Forge of its making</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
Well of its setting into place</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Healer,
maker, granter of imbas– She</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Gave
so much to me, it sufficed. Not</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">That
I denied Her other domains, or scorned them,</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Just
bowed and let them pass on by.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">But
that complacent wall broke, and She stood</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">There
in the middle of the night, when the</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Bothy’s
wall was torn down to take the body out.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Maker
of the First Keen, Her voice wound through</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
mourning sobs and whiskey laughter.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sword
not hammer in Her grip, shield hand,</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Not
healer’s She laid between my shoulders,</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Behind
my heart- wordless reassurance- “I</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Have
your back in this. Have, and give;</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Have
not, and receive; lapse, and be forgiven.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Make
do, do without, but always do your best.”</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">And
now she shows in so much else-</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sunlight
flowing through amber glass, sparkling</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">On
soapsuds; the smell of spices slowly</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Annealing
to delight in the cooking pot;</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">When
I make any solid thing, or beautify</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
familiar, known becoming rich and strange.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Washer
of the Dead, Bringer Into the Tribe,</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Midwife
of the Soul through three worlds,</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
shall never, ever lose my way to her Well</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">As
long as I can set my faltering feet on</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
first steps of the path to my own heart,</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Where
her living flame dances, too, paired</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Water
and fire, as much spring as forge,</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">As
much spark as droplet, two and three</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">And
oh! so many, unbound by number,</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Spiraling
infinite in the shining flow</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Of
Her mantle.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">First published 24 January 2015 on <i><a href="https://thewordsswimwaiting.wordpress.com/2015/01/24/poem-for-brigid-2/">The
Words Swim, Waiting</a></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Image</u>: “Brigit’s Wayside Well,” Kildare by Mael Brigde (2023)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-88475929842878954592024-02-15T16:55:00.000-08:002024-02-15T16:55:00.129-08:00‘The Song of Brigid’s Cloak’ by Catherine Ann Cullen <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MWymcYuu_jxgmrzR_G_YGtFA32l-Lsrmrx8VLlyFK7b54-mnrng0rVf16NzdF59EvRqKhSjUC1XZCqLe49Jq62iIjgC4FAEw3wJe86pVjTASrlG-gzAfwAzbkf-COb7HhxugwY6B208Z2Jm_etkqaM0UVaMLHAAuqIrnC8yG6VMrvOpSO2oThPuk/s400/D0CAC7CC-533E-41B4-92FC-898F1B124B24.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MWymcYuu_jxgmrzR_G_YGtFA32l-Lsrmrx8VLlyFK7b54-mnrng0rVf16NzdF59EvRqKhSjUC1XZCqLe49Jq62iIjgC4FAEw3wJe86pVjTASrlG-gzAfwAzbkf-COb7HhxugwY6B208Z2Jm_etkqaM0UVaMLHAAuqIrnC8yG6VMrvOpSO2oThPuk/s320/D0CAC7CC-533E-41B4-92FC-898F1B124B24.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">‘There was a wise woman, we’re all agreed,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">some call her Brigid, some call her Bríd.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">She grew up kind and she liked a joke<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">and she always wore a wee small cloak.’</p><p>‘The Song of Brigid’s Cloak’ (illustrated by Katya Swan) is a children's song and book, written by Catherine Anne Cullen for the ‘<a href="https://www.facebook.com/songsforourchildren" target="_blank">Songs for Our Children</a>’ project. The link on the image below will take you to a video where the song is taught to us by Aileen Lambert* and her daughter, Nellie. (Originally published on YouTube by her partner, Michael Fortune of folklore.ie.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyEuFsox31E" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1688" data-original-width="2346" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dBAUUQ0e11_qoWW237Mihc6-IdwrD7F6CQybN4RuThQs42eEpeMlx332XlcSrPXxmDtg5V6lvJvbNt2jBHErmFgbnGVt7IPeNic4hCd3jOF1IQrbud5kNgSdKm_NXKAVCrFXqWdVdBI5YAj_E1IHQ9uafp1iJ_0-XlLdM9syYo62LPrVYy5Q_7OKyjY/w400-h288/Screenshot%202024-01-01%20at%208.14.55%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>For more about the song, read what it’s author has to say about it <a href="https://www.writing.ie/interviews/the-song-of-brigids-cloak-by-catherine-ann-cullen-illust-by-katya-swan/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>* <a href="http://www.facebook.com/aileenlamberttraditionalsinger" target="_blank">Aileen</a> visits Primary Schools as part of the Heritage in Schools Scheme. See <a href="http://www.heritageinschools.ie">www.heritageinschools.ie</a> for more info and to arrange a visit contact Aileen on aileenlambert@gmail.com or 087 7552593. </p><p><u style="font-style: italic;">Images</u>: Cover of ‘The Song of Brigid’s Cloak’ and screenshot of Aileen and Nellie from their video.</p><p><br /></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-19224436717382554822024-02-04T16:13:00.000-08:002024-02-14T16:19:20.439-08:00"Ode To Bridget" (Gabhaim Molta Bríghde), sung by Nóirín Ní Riain<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opkXtlER2kU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1000" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogHnkch4VQXsPl68I5kmVwC-4QbBOTgSdEXhRjBhX0F3IhtfGaWgUPeUGf7H2Mfh3X995UQ1XubqAMAjyIADHNEEGjrt1ByIhIGAv8_zjakkDvxdyd8zCgDp8AYa2uR62UCZSiC130PvrC05W4zJCy9eLe10MYUQeUPAQ3utCH7YeOr5AkUHjwQ9WiV8/s320/52565A46-D7E3-40D0-8625-7AFEF7A91355.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kS_MsHwm8M" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">here</a> to listen on YouTube</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Nóirín <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opkXtlER2kU" target="_blank">talks</a> about her spiritual journey, and of Brigit. "A River of Stars," part 1/2. <span style="text-align: left;">Turas d'Anam (Journey Of Your Soul)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Image of Nóirín from <a href="https://www.letelegramme.fr/cotes-d-armor/treguier-22220/span-classamorce-jumelagespan-noirin-ni-riain-en-concert-mercredi-3434684.php" target="_blank">Le </a><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.letelegramme.fr/cotes-d-armor/treguier-22220/span-classamorce-jumelagespan-noirin-ni-riain-en-concert-mercredi-3434684.php" target="_blank">Télégramme</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-7192108117941439442024-01-24T13:04:00.000-08:002024-01-24T13:04:00.156-08:00Lúireach Bhríde (Brigid's Breastplate) - a song to celebrate the lives of Irish women<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUyf2cMB4PU8JJFbXdMbc9MnavgzOKVu8LgReKhmlTsAck-EGjAw0HQiwmQ2jmazKyGUmWa8_aCXtkA5ZDjXO8tvqMs0nuMDDSJcuX1tAsOMXw3s0A4JF4VHUCV4KuoytM3_J4w3Qtxvpn8_SGjIzJzyaxBNOWpLdd3POneuSqdo8K0BA1zzQ60oHINA/s2508/Screenshot%202023-12-02%20at%208.14.46%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2508" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUyf2cMB4PU8JJFbXdMbc9MnavgzOKVu8LgReKhmlTsAck-EGjAw0HQiwmQ2jmazKyGUmWa8_aCXtkA5ZDjXO8tvqMs0nuMDDSJcuX1tAsOMXw3s0A4JF4VHUCV4KuoytM3_J4w3Qtxvpn8_SGjIzJzyaxBNOWpLdd3POneuSqdo8K0BA1zzQ60oHINA/w400-h180/Screenshot%202023-12-02%20at%208.14.46%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Go to the RTÉ page where you will be able to listen to <a href="https://www.rte.ie/culture/2018/1107/1009011-luireach-bhride-a-song-to-celebrate-the-lives-of-irish-women/" target="_blank">this beautiful song</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">This article was originally published on Wednesday, 7 Nov 2018.</span></div><div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "ibm plex sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 24px 0px;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">In 2018, RTÉ Radio 1 commissioned a new song to celebrate the lives of women in Ireland and, in this landmark year for women’s rights, to </b><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">honour</b><b style="box-sizing: inherit;"> the lived experiences of our Irish foremothers. </b></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "ibm plex sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 24px 0px;">The idea for this collaborative project was three-dimensional. Poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin was commissioned to write the lyrics, the group Landless was invited to adapt the poem to music and filmmaker Tadhg O’Sullivan was asked to interpret the work on film - the resulting collaboration was premiered at this year's RTÉ Radio 1 Irish Folk Awards.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "ibm plex sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 24px 0px;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Watch their collaboration, entitled <i style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lúireach Bhríde</i>, above.</b></p><figure class="image" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10); color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "ibm plex sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><img alt="" src="https://img.rasset.ie/0010cc44-614.jpg?ratio=1.78" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 602.65625px;" /><div class="dotie-icon_dotie-icon-enlarge image-enlarge-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: rte-icons, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; height: 60px; line-height: 1; margin-top: -60px; position: relative; z-index: 200000000;"></div><figcaption style="border-bottom-color: rgb(219, 217, 212); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6d7278; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: center;">Annemarie Ní Churreáin</figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "ibm plex sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 24px 0px;">For the text, poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin revisited the pre-Christian stories associated with Brigid, commonly known in Ireland as a triple Goddess of poetry, healing and smithcraft. It is said that when Brigid’s outlawed son Ruadán died in battle, Brigid began to keen and this was the first time ever that keening was heard in this country. Despite her many reincarnations in Irish culture and beyond, Brigid remains a symbol of female power and strength, with the ability to express and transcend according to – and despite – the world around her.</p><figure class="image" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10); color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "ibm plex sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><img alt="" src="https://img.rasset.ie/000e0065-614.jpg?ratio=1.5" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 602.65625px;" /><div class="dotie-icon_dotie-icon-enlarge image-enlarge-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: rte-icons, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; height: 60px; line-height: 1; margin-top: -60px; position: relative; z-index: 200000000;"></div><figcaption style="border-bottom-color: rgb(219, 217, 212); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6d7278; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: center;">Landless</figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "ibm plex sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 24px 0px;">Today at The Brigid Well in Kildare, where this text was composed, the oaks are decorated with ribbons, pagan emblems, and infant cloths in memory of the Goddess. A ‘lúireach’ (or a ‘lorica’) is a protective prayer or a ‘breastplate’. The original version of this text takes the form of a poem and is dedicated to the children of The Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home at Tuam, Galway. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "ibm plex sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 24px 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "ibm plex sans", sans-serif; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 24px 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Images</u>: both images and all text are from the original RTÉ article.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "ibm plex sans", sans-serif; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 24px 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-31511456699221438862024-01-10T22:23:00.000-08:002024-01-10T22:23:00.132-08:00“The Clothes Shrine” by Seamus Heaney<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCb1pdbxeSAOa6KMraUHoJYT02hP2TYUn78e-DXQ_RY6xwHJpS6CJJLKkTEknjN2VyNt4Ak4lE510OoGjCqhHA5kWe2I29YpV-JVT3089gfY4-Rl4mYS0SZqeUVJ8v2b3OTMUlRa0Bd2cCgm-rX9xKq1RSDWAmAe5SgmHU4qFcmURVM6WJxKTy-_uUm-A/s4395/manu-b-eWHSjC8KS9c-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2933" data-original-width="4395" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCb1pdbxeSAOa6KMraUHoJYT02hP2TYUn78e-DXQ_RY6xwHJpS6CJJLKkTEknjN2VyNt4Ak4lE510OoGjCqhHA5kWe2I29YpV-JVT3089gfY4-Rl4mYS0SZqeUVJ8v2b3OTMUlRa0Bd2cCgm-rX9xKq1RSDWAmAe5SgmHU4qFcmURVM6WJxKTy-_uUm-A/w400-h268/manu-b-eWHSjC8KS9c-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Clothes Shrine</span></b></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a whole new sweetness</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the early days to find</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Light white muslin blouses</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On a see-through nylon line</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Drip-drying in the bathroom</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or a nylon slip in the shine</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of its own electricity — </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">as if Saint Brigid once more</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Had rigged up a ray of sun</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like the one she’d strung on air</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To dry her own cloak on</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Hard-pressed Brigid, so</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unstoppably on the go) –</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The damp and slumped and unfair</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Drag of the workaday</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Made light of and got through</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As usual, brilliantly.</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>
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<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>Image</i></span>: </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/selective-focus-of-red-clip-on-clothesline-eWHSjC8KS9c" target="_blank">Photo of clothes on line</a> (close-up) by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@photomanu?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash" target="_blank">Manu B</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/selective-focus-of-red-clip-on-clothesline-eWHSjC8KS9c?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash" target="_blank">Unsplash</a>.</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Audio</u>: Listen to Seamus Heaney reading his poem <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-612681505/seamus-heaney-the-clothes-shrine" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p><p><br /></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-86141260032066010562023-12-24T20:26:00.000-08:002023-12-24T20:26:00.129-08:00“A Ribbon for Brigid” by Hugh O'Donnell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Petersham_ribbon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Petersham_ribbon.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="break-after: avoid; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></h1><h1 style="break-after: avoid; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0in;">A Ribbon for Brigid<o:p></o:p></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">from Time to Call Home<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">by Hugh O’Donnell</span></i><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“It’s instinctive,” Teresa says. “You feel it in your blood. Earth stirs, shoots appear.” She’s talking about Brigit and the sense of her embodiment in the full bellied life fest of spring.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Goddess and national saint, girl and mother in a monastery garden, not meek and mild but shrewd and savvy. Seer and overseer, she gives protection to entrances and steppingstones, to poets and blacksmiths, animals and land.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She is neither to be contained in a monastery nor corralled by the state, this mystic of the natural world whom we celebrate in the ancient practice of weaving a sun-cross of rushes. By doing so, we are weaving together in her name all strands of wisdom from death-resurrection to the rhythm of seasons on our sun-shocked earth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I call up Elizabeth for guidance. She describes how she celebrates the ritual for Brigid’s eve. At dusk, she leaves a length of ribbon outside so that as Brigid passes in the dewfall she will bless it. Afterwards, it will be cut into pieces and shared with neighbours who can apply the healing fabric to a body’s pain.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Imbolc, February 1, is the first day we invite her wise and wholesome presence into our lives. For those of us who have lived at a distance from the earth, it is still not too late to find our way home again in the company of Brigid as we take her hand and go play like children beneath the weeping birch where clumps of snowdrops shed their light.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-12672660194944043622023-11-24T02:32:00.000-08:002023-11-24T02:32:26.369-08:00"Blessing Against Oppression and Submission” by Mael Brigde<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ylu3rn7tiO8MzoGHtM5GNcEdeYAe2ujGglH1wxl8-oRjQ_5J71cm1dWeaWdkEdfXvX80hsXlGr5KvLEIYqPTS0clepcEzWszeaMBhrPSPxOsA_mBmUdfgCDUEnuyYFl7lNVJqmt_viGdgrRSLrTZssjm0gljLR61Y07ZalhH1z8NNXl_hzsp9NomhZc/s5472/nsey-benajah-KRgjGaA0qm0-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ylu3rn7tiO8MzoGHtM5GNcEdeYAe2ujGglH1wxl8-oRjQ_5J71cm1dWeaWdkEdfXvX80hsXlGr5KvLEIYqPTS0clepcEzWszeaMBhrPSPxOsA_mBmUdfgCDUEnuyYFl7lNVJqmt_viGdgrRSLrTZssjm0gljLR61Y07ZalhH1z8NNXl_hzsp9NomhZc/w400-h266/nsey-benajah-KRgjGaA0qm0-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><a name="_Toc31211090"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Blessing Against Oppression and Submission</span></b></a></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">you who ran unconstrained</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">across the Curragh</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">stand between me and slavery</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">as you shattered the lies</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">of the shrewd</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">would-be rapist</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">would-be owner of his</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">intended thrall</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">freed his victim</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">now sovereign again</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">over</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">spirit body heart</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">bless me</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">protector of women and the bound</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">you knew your path</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">though yourself a slave</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">made them set you free</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">set me free</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">enquired of the mute child</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">what do you want?</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">though others cried impossible!</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">did not stir until</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">she found and made her choice</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">let me know the truth</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">of my own thoughts</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">the liberty to follow them</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">where I must</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">bless preserve</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">enlighten me</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">long against danger</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">give me aid</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"><u style="font-style: italic;">Image</u>: Young, long-haired, black woman running in grass. Image is blurred. Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@nseylubangi" target="_blank">Nsey Benajah</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/woman-running-on-grass-field-at-daytime-KRgjGaA0qm0" target="_blank">Unsplash</a></span></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-82255505306813544392023-10-22T22:34:00.001-07:002023-10-22T22:34:26.691-07:00"drown me out" & "summoning" by cadence b.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWZwCczih4Eswh2mnzGH2ZLKeAmeC1qiKnnIii6cztKM9Y9GGulcbLTU-HRNBsDnEcxnNz-2BAMQ7gJt5Se_JM_KltdVBvWZXrIiNtUV6bqfSU6khSp3oDGvp7JxhCGgBSdoc7qAV3iTNVNK_CVleKRlyAE1hfub_GCYCF19gAGM1HHOCtHo2vb9kx9U/s6000/paul-pastourmatzis-RtQ42GAm21g-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4798" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWZwCczih4Eswh2mnzGH2ZLKeAmeC1qiKnnIii6cztKM9Y9GGulcbLTU-HRNBsDnEcxnNz-2BAMQ7gJt5Se_JM_KltdVBvWZXrIiNtUV6bqfSU6khSp3oDGvp7JxhCGgBSdoc7qAV3iTNVNK_CVleKRlyAE1hfub_GCYCF19gAGM1HHOCtHo2vb9kx9U/w320-h400/paul-pastourmatzis-RtQ42GAm21g-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="PlayfairDisplay-Regular" style="font-size: 20pt; mso-bidi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">drown me out<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">I do not feel alive<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">until it's already tomorrow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">and I haven't slept in days<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">but even when the near-forgotten spectre<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">of drowsiness rears its head<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">still<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">I keep myself awake<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">because I don't want to hear myself feel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">I drown out the sound of my thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">with as many decibels as I can muster<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">and I drown out the shaking of my hand<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">with the precision of the pencil and the
brush<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">and I drown out the pound of my heart<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">with the rhythm of my footsteps<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">but I can't drown out the flame that's been
lit in my core<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">the way it flickers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">when I'm least prepared<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">I knew from the moment you rose from the
steps<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">and I turned away so that I wouldn't have to
face the light<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">I need you to drown me out<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">so
that I stop trying to drown myself<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="PlayfairDisplay-Regular" style="font-size: 20pt; mso-bidi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">summoning<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">beneath a dark moon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">in the shadow of an eclipse<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">to which I spoke my true name<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">and heard it echoed back to me<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">I showed you my demons<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">and instead of running away<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">you cast a circle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Lora-Regular" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Lora-Regular; mso-hansi-font-family: PlayfairDisplay-Regular;">to summon more<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><u>Image</u></i>: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/white-moon-RtQ42GAm21g" target="_blank">Photo of lunar eclipse</a> by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@pueblovista?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash" target="_blank">Paul Pastourmatzis</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/white-moon-RtQ42GAm21g?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash" target="_blank">Unsplash</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><u>Note</u></i>:
These poems were originally published in <i>after / the / rift</i> by cadence
b. on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/318562765289760/permalink/1185297735282921">Brigid’s
Forge</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-60421199351315956292023-06-21T17:07:00.001-07:002023-06-21T17:07:33.983-07:00“A Brigid's Girdle - for Adele” & “Brigid’s Girdle” by Séamus Heaney<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UR2zalIqHcVFl12D6zx0dxNwwUjCMssOiARBr6X0KwfWpPIOwjQyeT-eE5JVbK4Et8XpMG7hz5AGXj6jwWnv4KhC_qY6vdOu3CQGETw9k7d59nSNRIW-MDebK8hu00mBJcX2ODnloil2LVgxuHIUmMWzLxf-_IkMkYy4B3QH-cvkyp6llDOl1RSU3AI/s2048/E75E5FE6-C210-4A88-8744-CFA2695225D6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UR2zalIqHcVFl12D6zx0dxNwwUjCMssOiARBr6X0KwfWpPIOwjQyeT-eE5JVbK4Et8XpMG7hz5AGXj6jwWnv4KhC_qY6vdOu3CQGETw9k7d59nSNRIW-MDebK8hu00mBJcX2ODnloil2LVgxuHIUmMWzLxf-_IkMkYy4B3QH-cvkyp6llDOl1RSU3AI/s320/E75E5FE6-C210-4A88-8744-CFA2695225D6.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><b>A Brigid's Girdle - for Adele<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;">Last time I wrote I wrote from a rustic table<br />Under magnolias in South Carolina<br />As blossoms fell on me, and a white gable<br />As clean-lined as the prow of a white liner<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;">Bisected sunlight in the sunlit yard.<br />I was glad of the early heat and the first quiet<br />And a delicious, articulate<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;">Flight of small plinkings from a dulcimer<br />Like feminine rhymes migrating to the north<br />Where you faced the music and the ache of summer<br />And earth's foreknowledge gathered in the earth.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;">Now it's St Brigid's Day and the first snowdrop<br />In County Wicklow, and this a Brigid's Girdle<br />I'm plaiting for you, an airy fairy hoop<br />(Like one of those old crinolines they'd trindle),<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;">Twisted straw that's lifted in a circle<br />To handsel and to heal, a rite of spring<br />As strange and lightsome and traditional<br />As the motions you go through going through the thing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><b>Brigid’s Girdle</b><br /><br />On St Brigid’s Day, the new Life could be entered<br />By going through her girdle of Straw rope:<br />the proper way for men was right leg first,<br />Then right arm and right shoulder,<br />Head then left<br />Shoulder, arm and leg,<br />Women drew it down<br />Over the body and stepped out of it<br />The open they came into by these moves<br />Stood opener, hoops came off the world,<br />They could feel the February air<br />Still soft above their heads and imagine<br />The limp rope fray and flare like wind-borne gleanings<br />Or an unhindered goldfinch over ploughland<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Note</u>: From the “Crossings” Collection by Séamus Heaney<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Image</u>: "looping rope on plain background" by Kier in Sight Archives. From <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/2TwvNp2kw78" target="_blank">Unsplash</a>. CC2.0 Modified to black and white by Mael Brigde.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><br />Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-50659526714874313932023-02-04T18:42:00.005-08:002023-02-04T18:48:30.132-08:00“Imbolg” by Geraldine Moorkens Byrne<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbSvy2XnbN_4kJCuXeg6ewd18l_y1PI5xzgf0JEem8Z8jmZ6SMGFSzcXyAFsB6UbswkAkC5I-JBMQKFQQhQO-xp12_dqKEyaIDcXpYRd-VBM5hDYy7VBcl3fMpxIHbYTudZPUvB6heKmxnUKacPWd1QDWWJd-KD9OH-Bk6wDRZQfgEWmZ4_03cPe_/s474/image_2023-02-04_184105566.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="474" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbSvy2XnbN_4kJCuXeg6ewd18l_y1PI5xzgf0JEem8Z8jmZ6SMGFSzcXyAFsB6UbswkAkC5I-JBMQKFQQhQO-xp12_dqKEyaIDcXpYRd-VBM5hDYy7VBcl3fMpxIHbYTudZPUvB6heKmxnUKacPWd1QDWWJd-KD9OH-Bk6wDRZQfgEWmZ4_03cPe_/w400-h266/image_2023-02-04_184105566.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Imbolg</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 112%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">She is cloaked in moments</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">glittering gems of rescued
time</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">on a gauze of twilight, in</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">the grand stretch of an
evening</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 112%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Her eyes bring light to the
day</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">green as a new bud fighting</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">for life beneath hard cold
soil</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">reaching to greet the silvered
dawn</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 112%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Her voice is the poetry of
the wind</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">metred in short stanzas </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">the breath of new life and
fresh air</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">as we call her into our homes</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 112%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">She perfumes the air with
smoke</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">burning it clean from the
winter's decay</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">It is a prayer to her, a
blessing</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">curling itself into the
corners.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 112%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">O! Brìd. You are the one that
we need</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">You are the dream that we
cherished </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">in the dark and the lean</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">in the belly of the turning
year<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #252525; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-small;"><i><u>Copyright:</u></i> Geraldine Moorkens Byrne 2023</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #252525; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><u style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gerbyrne/3276152631" target="_blank">Image</a></u>: by </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: trebuchet;">Geraldine Moorkens Byrne</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: trebuchet;"> on Flickr, February 8, 2009.</span></span></p><p></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-56977299134373004832023-02-01T13:04:00.002-08:002023-02-01T13:04:31.948-08:00“Blessing on Brigit's Eve” by Mael Brigde<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf5fNEYoWdK-5jJEWXc_tjwrtZtIuK-Gm_q8-2_lSwckkxM47P9ccOxXF6KsYKL9vrrB4gbjY2CXqWP7DHkPiC0pQ_QQ5KDyf8pMffG0L6AjGBYx5f-orY1risacAoBGQRESdXMSwaVWcvNq-IMQZwMpYBkhkXZGNLyUPH0PGyTB9EyKo6SqzR7K4/s2048/Summer%20Fall%20some%20Winter%202010%20206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf5fNEYoWdK-5jJEWXc_tjwrtZtIuK-Gm_q8-2_lSwckkxM47P9ccOxXF6KsYKL9vrrB4gbjY2CXqWP7DHkPiC0pQ_QQ5KDyf8pMffG0L6AjGBYx5f-orY1risacAoBGQRESdXMSwaVWcvNq-IMQZwMpYBkhkXZGNLyUPH0PGyTB9EyKo6SqzR7K4/s320/Summer%20Fall%20some%20Winter%202010%20206.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Blessing on Brigit's Eve<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">May she bless you in everything you do<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">May you be peaceful, safe, well, and happy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">May all of your losses and all of your gains<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> be tempered by her healing hand<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">May she help you build your life and world<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> with her smith's understanding<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">May she help you find the words<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> and meanings of your life<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> with her poet's heart<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p><i><u>Image</u></i>: a small beeswax candle, shaped as an open </o:p>flower. Photo by Mael Brigde.</span></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-18550779387850175592022-12-01T00:00:00.001-08:002022-12-01T00:00:00.186-08:00Sun Poem, Two Variations by Kersten Christianson<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3psuslR7i8nnfJkJaA6TYPr1JSWFc1eds3mfAVGVI81db8vNnk9djnN8dDIQeHuVVNuq_mQ9eIkNBqZaomzI6kg7E1tufMkKyfICdtW4FB0b6TlqDv4BdPfrYSo_QGi3AWT8qw0vG08/s2048/Kersten%2527s+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3psuslR7i8nnfJkJaA6TYPr1JSWFc1eds3mfAVGVI81db8vNnk9djnN8dDIQeHuVVNuq_mQ9eIkNBqZaomzI6kg7E1tufMkKyfICdtW4FB0b6TlqDv4BdPfrYSo_QGi3AWT8qw0vG08/w320-h400/Kersten%2527s+window.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Brigit’s
Light:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Break from Rain<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">To
remind us of her presence,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the
sun opens her blinds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">occasionally.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">She
dusts the glass-beaded crystals<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">waiting
in windows<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and
washes my space in gold.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">She
travels across hushed waters<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">slipping
silently into the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">(As published in <i>Brigit: Sun of
Womanhood</i>, 2013)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Sun<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Occasionally
she opens<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the
blinds, to remind me she is there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">She
dusts the glass-beaded <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">baubles
swinging in the windows.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">She
washes in gold light<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">my
bookshelves, my desk,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the
dust collected in the corners,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the
spider plant drooping on the sill.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">She
goes about her day,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">moving
across hushed waters,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">gliding
silently into the wine-dark sea.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">(As edited and published in <i>Something
Yet to Be Named,</i> 2017)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><u><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Image</span></u></i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">: Kersten's window, by Kersten Christianson.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-65796360835917494832022-11-02T20:01:00.004-07:002022-11-02T20:01:46.995-07:00“A Poem in Honor of St Brigid” by Brigid Claire Oak<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOicv5uotAQ_yZF_xGkxnMBOsrbN8dw5c4SgD1LKPzAMTiQgRGnaFzZOtryv0W97rnsfZg2320Q1Vm1NhhdcWec2TWp8ts-3pPPMmIuUROfMaPclQ7nAVrTghO-jzMBx3Ph6SfL_V_NNd9k3fkZezTP06umEaWIKf5N6Q2G5iv7rLoBkhOS4QN15F/s959/The%20Lagan%20Meadows%20in%20all%20their%20summer%20glory%20(Jul.,%202009)%20by%20K%20Mitch%20Hodge.bmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="959" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOicv5uotAQ_yZF_xGkxnMBOsrbN8dw5c4SgD1LKPzAMTiQgRGnaFzZOtryv0W97rnsfZg2320Q1Vm1NhhdcWec2TWp8ts-3pPPMmIuUROfMaPclQ7nAVrTghO-jzMBx3Ph6SfL_V_NNd9k3fkZezTP06umEaWIKf5N6Q2G5iv7rLoBkhOS4QN15F/w400-h259/The%20Lagan%20Meadows%20in%20all%20their%20summer%20glory%20(Jul.,%202009)%20by%20K%20Mitch%20Hodge.bmp.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">A
Poem in Honor of St Brigid<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Her
habit is<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">a
dancing dress,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">her
prayer beads, tinkling bells.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">She
settles in<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">the
sun’s caress,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">and
drinks from ancient wells.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Her
abbey is<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">a
grove of oak,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">deep
in a forest glen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">From
here the Winds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">of
Wisdom spoke,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">from
here She’ll speak again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Her
bread’s a hearty<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">cake
of oat,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Her
wine’s a honey meade.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">She
gives away<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">her
shoes and coat,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">the
hungry she does feed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Her
altar is<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">a
peasant’s heart,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">draped
in Love’s linen, fair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
Queen of Heaven,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Prince
of Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">and
angels meet her there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Her
mantle is<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">the
meadow green,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">all
creatures are her friends.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Those
once forgotten,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">now
are seen,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">their
brokenness she mends.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Her
sacred well’s<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">a
lake of ale,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">with
roses all around.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Her
faith, a currach<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">setting
sail,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">her
soul is Holy Ground.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Her
crozier is<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">a
wand of light,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">her
mitre; made of fire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
Shepherdess of good<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">and
right,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">compassion
and desire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Her
smile’s a message<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">of
God’s care,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">and
Love that knows no end.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Dear
Anamchara of Kildare,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Saint,
Abbess,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">and
Soul-Friend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Image</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">: "</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The Lagan Meadows in all their summer glory" (July 2009) by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@kmitchhodge" target="_blank">K. Mitch Hodge</a>. (Lagan Meadow, Belfast, Northern Ireland, U.K.) </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Note</u>: <i>This poem was p</i></span><span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">osted by Paul Neeley on </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://godspacelight.com/">Godspace</a><i> blog: </i>“<a href="https://godspacelight.com/2016/07/28/a-prayer-and-a-poem-in-the-spirit-of-st-brigid/">A Prayer and a Poem in the Spirit of St Brigid</a>” on </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">July 28, 2016. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">He wrote:</span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">‘Here’s a poem in honor of St. Brigid written by ‘Brigid Claire Oak’ which I found through the Facebook group ‘Celtic Christian Tradition.’ She has given permission to share it here: She notes, “The words came with a little melody and I do sing it, but it is not set to music in an official sense.”’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I have tried to track down the author of the post and the author of the poem, to no avail. I post them here in the hope that anyone who sees it who knows her may let me know and I can pursue permission retrospectively. Although most of the readers of <i>Stone on the Belly</i> are Pagan, I like to post Christian prayers and poems now and then to show another side of her cult. This one has some particularly lovely bits I wanted to share with you.</span></span></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-5719252335203946222022-09-21T23:18:00.004-07:002022-09-21T23:18:58.521-07:00"Recalling Brigid" by Orna Ross<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3kn6Kdyqv6qAVk01J5gajVzQSOvvCH8GFvagwK6huahqlvcx_xCDbFSQi6mX9sXlVaNGisl9ygSX6sKBtoDrgPi3nXHop_y_dLGtZGPWjAYlAWJ71lVyLs5QxhMF22RVLl39cmNhgwTQHSpzCEbVcL1cDa77_K3qSQukgdLAwyL9hPff0LbjXeUU/s5472/4C51B718-231B-4710-B3FA-D4438FAB7B72.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3kn6Kdyqv6qAVk01J5gajVzQSOvvCH8GFvagwK6huahqlvcx_xCDbFSQi6mX9sXlVaNGisl9ygSX6sKBtoDrgPi3nXHop_y_dLGtZGPWjAYlAWJ71lVyLs5QxhMF22RVLl39cmNhgwTQHSpzCEbVcL1cDa77_K3qSQukgdLAwyL9hPff0LbjXeUU/s320/4C51B718-231B-4710-B3FA-D4438FAB7B72.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Recalling
Brigid<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Orna
Ross<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Queen
of queens, they called her <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">in
the old books, the Irish Mary. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Never
washed her hands, nor her head <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">in
sight of a man, never looked <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">into
a man’s face. She was good <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">with
the poor, multiplied food, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">gave
ale to lepers. Among birds, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">call
her dove; among trees, a vine. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">A
sun among stars. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Such
was the sort of woman <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">preferred
as the takeover was made: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">consecrated
cask, throne to His glory, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">intercessor.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Brigid
said nothing to any of this,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">the
reverence, or the upbraidings. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Her
realm is the lacuna, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">silence
her sceptre, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">her
own way of life its own witness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Out
of desire, the lure of lust <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">or
the dust of great deeds, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">she
was distorted: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">to
consort, mother-virgin, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">to
victim or whore. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
am not as womanly <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">a
woman as she. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">So
I say: Let us see. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Let
us say how she is the one. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">It
is she who conceives <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">and
she who does bear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">She
who knitted us in the womb <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">and
who will cradle our<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">tomb-fraying.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Daily
she offers her arms,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">clothes
us in compassion, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">smiles
as we wriggle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">for
baubles. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Yes,
it is she who lifts you aloft <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">to
whisper through your ears, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">to
kiss with your eyes, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">to
touch her cooling <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">cheek
to your cheek.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><u style="font-style: italic;">Image</u>: by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@raulangel" target="_blank">Raul Angel </a>on Unsplash. "One in a million," Guatemala City, Guatemala.</p><p>First published on Instagram in February 2022, then on Orna's blog, <i><a href="https://ornaross.com/from-orna/poem-recalling-brigid/" target="_blank">Orna Ross</a></i>, on 13 February 2022.</p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-90783954131868649322022-07-29T18:06:00.003-07:002022-07-29T18:48:13.414-07:00"Níl aon bhealach" by memoriata<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2kCC-dgz3BaHcWytcjCdSkFzl7s58jUCJAC0Y3XUCtdV1ejBUCs1dpsH6HLR-TvTftAMh1bZ3Xe5pVncTyGqJvRPhJvsX4KHRj1LJungmBp7rn1ODgpmwjInSIZjt5fSs5pOLFPUZPa01pyHLL7t0tm8RSE2fNu2QKysxMSSCFvsmqoUgTjyXgKr/s2464/A1D3A97B-1C71-444E-A333-CA81B3C08D34.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1389" data-original-width="2464" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2kCC-dgz3BaHcWytcjCdSkFzl7s58jUCJAC0Y3XUCtdV1ejBUCs1dpsH6HLR-TvTftAMh1bZ3Xe5pVncTyGqJvRPhJvsX4KHRj1LJungmBp7rn1ODgpmwjInSIZjt5fSs5pOLFPUZPa01pyHLL7t0tm8RSE2fNu2QKysxMSSCFvsmqoUgTjyXgKr/s320/A1D3A97B-1C71-444E-A333-CA81B3C08D34.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;"><b>Níl aon bhealach<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Brigid shield of fire and water<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Healing well, perpetual light<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Threefold sister, Dagda's daughter<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Guard me with your flame so bright<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Tig an éirí na gréine tar éis an oiche fada<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">After the long winter comes the spring<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Níl aon bhealach amach ach tríd<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Níl aon bhealach amach ach tríd an tine<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Níl aon bhealach amach ach tríd<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Níl aon bhealach amach ach Bríd<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Brigid spark of hope in darkness<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Brigid of the forge of life<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Smith of transformation, Goddess<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Guide me safely through all strife<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Tig an earrach tar éis an gheimhreadh fada<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">After the long night comes the dawn<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Níl aon bhealach amach ach tríd<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Níl aon bhealach amach ach tríd an tine<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Níl aon bhealach amach ach tríd<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Níl aon bhealach amach ach Bríd<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Keep the darkness from me<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">lantern in my chest<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Light the way before me<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">lead me to my rest<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Coinnigh an dorchadas uaim<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">lóchrann i mo chroí<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Soilsigh an bealach ar aghaidh dom<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">treoraigh mé do mo críoch<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Níl aon bhealach amach ach tríd<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Níl aon bhealach amach ach tríd an tine<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Níl aon bhealach amach ach tríd<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;">Níl aon bhealach amach ach Bríd<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="https://memoriata.bandcamp.com/track/n-l-aon-bhealach" target="_blank">Níl aon bhealach</a> from <a href="https://memoriata.bandcamp.com/album/songs-to-brigid" target="_blank">Songs to Brigid</a>, released February 2, 2021<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;">Words, tune and arrangement: memoriata<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;">Be sure to listen onto this beautiful song.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Image</u><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@elgassier" target="_blank">M.T ElGassier</a>.</p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-43727103989124866672022-06-23T00:00:00.001-07:002022-06-23T00:30:54.048-07:00"Vigorous Dairy Maid" by Mael Brigde<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLa6_PA1sMfhk-YuLGnDhaDW2mVseUH6SaEKmKy6HSbfsau65g1bz5vOi_hsZDvFCAUzbmTJElHHz_c446UehsVjNXtZ5ZNGnuUIho8WKL90-zLza5oRFTRp6FoiKcv5tOac3673vgavHpgjajmnlJkKaqO1ynkF7QfAzHkTCVxxp4WqbgAq46NAc/s1080/Fresh_cow's_milk%20%5BEndee%20n%20CC%20BY-SA%204%200%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="799" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLa6_PA1sMfhk-YuLGnDhaDW2mVseUH6SaEKmKy6HSbfsau65g1bz5vOi_hsZDvFCAUzbmTJElHHz_c446UehsVjNXtZ5ZNGnuUIho8WKL90-zLza5oRFTRp6FoiKcv5tOac3673vgavHpgjajmnlJkKaqO1ynkF7QfAzHkTCVxxp4WqbgAq46NAc/w296-h400/Fresh_cow's_milk%20%5BEndee%20n%20CC%20BY-SA%204%200%5D.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in;"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Vigorous Dairy
Maid<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">you draw forth
milk <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">with such energy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">vats froth over<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">a great pond
forms <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">to last for all
of time<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in;"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">cattle glance
over white shoulders<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">look in wonder <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">at what they have
produced<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Image</u>: "Freshly milked cow's milk" by Endee n. [CC BY-SA 4.0, via <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a>]</span><p></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-75821671892365751442022-05-15T17:08:00.001-07:002022-05-15T17:14:14.755-07:00"Brighid Weaving Her Mantle" by Ashli Hall<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNuUR7DK7rt2rd8BVkMjg5RIL2WZBh6qxhdIutIGLJC9_kw_n3YBwJyFUOZY153QlEPz7nis0-UCtc5rDEvLaNnU9ZVx0O8FH-HmT7mgo11K3cCDsHYC9GZSSJzz-mv_ptbb0FprcT1-25nPMozm3zIj9L6EKtWflgtzMGyWAGcR1x9DRjYxrBw8z/s3543/Irish_colleen_with_green_plaid_shawl,_1890s%20%5BPhotoglob%20Z%C3%BCrich,%20reprinted%20by%20Detroit%20Publishing%20Co.,%20Public%20domain,%20via%20Wikimedia%20Commons%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3543" data-original-width="2625" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNuUR7DK7rt2rd8BVkMjg5RIL2WZBh6qxhdIutIGLJC9_kw_n3YBwJyFUOZY153QlEPz7nis0-UCtc5rDEvLaNnU9ZVx0O8FH-HmT7mgo11K3cCDsHYC9GZSSJzz-mv_ptbb0FprcT1-25nPMozm3zIj9L6EKtWflgtzMGyWAGcR1x9DRjYxrBw8z/w296-h400/Irish_colleen_with_green_plaid_shawl,_1890s%20%5BPhotoglob%20Z%C3%BCrich,%20reprinted%20by%20Detroit%20Publishing%20Co.,%20Public%20domain,%20via%20Wikimedia%20Commons%5D.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Brighid
Weaving Her Mantle<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
think of Your famous mantle,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">draped
around Your shoulders,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">a
legend of Your kindness and cleverness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Was
it given to You?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Perhaps,
but Your blessed mantle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">feels
crafted by Your deft hands.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Even
with Your ability,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">did
Your fingers fumble<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">while
arranging the warp?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Did
inexperience pass into expertise<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">as
You worked the yarn<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">over
and under, under and over?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Emerald,
sage, and grass green,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">hues
of the land coming together, one day<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">spanning
the distance of the Curragh.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Once
removed from the loom,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">did
You hang it on a sunbeam<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">to
admire Your handiwork?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Your
fair fingers idling<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">over
the delicate fringe<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">as
You prayed or sang.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
ponder these images,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">sacred
scenes resonating<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">as
I weave.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><u style="font-style: italic;">Image</u>: "Irish Colleen with Green Plaid Shawl." (1890s) This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division. Public domain, accessed via Wikimedia. Photo is retouched and colourised. She wears a flowered headscarf and a long white apron over a black dress. She is looking off to the side, hands on hips, her dark red bangs visible.</p><p><u style="font-style: italic;">Note</u>: First published in <a href="https://oakenroots.substack.com/p/the-illuminating-spark-brighid-weaving" target="_blank">Oaken Roots Hermitage</a>, 14 December 2021.</p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-64653007323981091592022-03-21T16:41:00.001-07:002022-03-21T16:41:00.186-07:00“Brighid of the dandelion” by Jenne Micale<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2OUpuAD_M-_7WJ9TIGrj6VBURwCzQzaAepcEloS3KQv4PRAbVrQinCo1nmImPjx9cVJZexTd6PUMXapGD7BCU5ggkUPWgDQIi3skSExd61UfMYRS4gbV57LSEPI62DmdTeGdl3kCAF0/s2048/pexels-jill-burrow-6070348.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2OUpuAD_M-_7WJ9TIGrj6VBURwCzQzaAepcEloS3KQv4PRAbVrQinCo1nmImPjx9cVJZexTd6PUMXapGD7BCU5ggkUPWgDQIi3skSExd61UfMYRS4gbV57LSEPI62DmdTeGdl3kCAF0/w426-h640/pexels-jill-burrow-6070348.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Brighid
of the dandelion</span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">You
are in the dandelion, the gold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">of
the summer your bright eye, its edged lace<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">your
mantle winter white in the grass, each<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">sailing
on the wind to root in new ground.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">After
frost they still reached out to bloom, burning<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">in
dim Samhaintide up until the snow<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">where
under that blank mantle they abide<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">until
the first fetching thaw. Roots reach deep<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">and
ensure their return, the same as thought,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">as
a smoored flame slumbering in heaps of<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">snowy
ash until the wind of a word<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">stirs
it, a willing hand readies a twig<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">and
so brings back day’s flame, the saving heat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">You
cannot be eradicated, fire-eye<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">and
pale foot, the heat of thought melting the ice<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Image</u>: "Dandelion" <span style="background-color: #e8e8e8; color: #1a1a1a;">by </span><span style="background-color: #e8e8e8; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 600; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/@jill-burrow?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Jill Burrow</a></span><span style="background-color: #e8e8e8; color: #1a1a1a;"> from </span><span style="background-color: #e8e8e8; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 600; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/female-hand-shadow-against-yellow-dandelion-on-blue-surface-6070348/?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Pexels</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Acknowledgement</u>: By permission. This poem first appeared in <i>Brigid's Light: Tending the Ancestral Flame of the Beloved Celtic Goddess,</i> March 1, 2022 by Cairelle Crow and Laura Louella , editors. </span></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-77655633990795186662022-02-03T15:22:00.006-08:002022-02-03T15:25:56.866-08:00"A Charm for a Person Living With an Illness or Pain" by Jennifer Parsons<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwDhihTNZ9t4VkHkUZI8c8Cfidc_KZaY_8J3GdhWOOVXXGvgGl3Dcq9vfcWFBZ7J_zgmAEI5ATDYIR1kuXwRQP54XRpZzVMIxyNAwIvYXvL9E26zmpIJrUjHoQ4aaqMWHYjd8_4ZF6OamZJvebx-KFZZReKtQjTVcwB08CMPnaEHu5BFWYhhE8sfR7=s6000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwDhihTNZ9t4VkHkUZI8c8Cfidc_KZaY_8J3GdhWOOVXXGvgGl3Dcq9vfcWFBZ7J_zgmAEI5ATDYIR1kuXwRQP54XRpZzVMIxyNAwIvYXvL9E26zmpIJrUjHoQ4aaqMWHYjd8_4ZF6OamZJvebx-KFZZReKtQjTVcwB08CMPnaEHu5BFWYhhE8sfR7=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 81.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
Charm for a Person Living With an Illness or Pain<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fiery
Brighid, shaper of stars,<br />
Bear your hammer down upon this one’s suffering.<br />
Turn your breath, glowing with poetry, upon their body<br />
Let flaring pain recede like the glow of metal in the forge<br />
Let the softest of your healing words rend pain into ash and sparks<br />
Which, scattered upon the night, glow and are no more.<br />
Let strength reside where pain once lived.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Merciful
Brighid, soft-handed<br />
Pour your healing out upon this one<br />
Sweet to the mouth and cooling to the throat as well-water<br />
Let cracks of pain ease and mend together, leaving suppleness<br />
Bear them up with your smooth and soothing hands, <br />
As the earth bears up the deepest of wells,<br />
Hurt and wear and damage shall run through your fingers,<br />
Leaving relief and resolve and peace floating about them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Glorious
Brighid, woman of the <i>sídhe</i><br />
The barest glimpse of your beauty haunts the poet<br />
Stirs fire into their blood, overflows their mouths with song<br />
But now it will silence a riot of suffering, in both body and mind<br />
The discord of pain will be brought to fit as rocks in a cairn,<br />
Solid joy, rest, and gratitude that will last summers upon winters upon summers
again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If
you accept this, let give you a roof in the rain, a line out of the turbulent
river’s current, a hearth to warm you, let it be a wave to drown your enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If
you do not accept it, let it melt and only its beauty remain, as the pink and
gold of the dawn does into day.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Note</u>: First posted on <a href="https://polyteleology.tumblr.com/post/63377319803/finneganandagain-sometimes-my-body-with-its?fbclid=IwAR0VDbCvUo6mpa2-QH8ABkwfaCZwYclH50QOVkSdyeSnww_HYrp-QCcIMHs)">Tumblr</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Image</u>: "Mother's Love"</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; white-space: nowrap;">by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@sandynegative?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Sandy Kumar</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a>.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-60100659558819406642022-01-17T13:41:00.000-08:002022-01-17T13:41:53.153-08:00Celebrating Brigit - A Gathering of Friends (Book Launch of A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars)<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8jQcKis3mezN1B5lyfPgK9cFCtc_l-r9axiHI1kSVm-fGJM_B9r22988riKPVHLIbPl71hAzBiP-CR7prBrsojUYDIeaJJBkBeIwpAdf6TjIC8-GxfW4x1GeciO8XcjBVT9ovaLq3l4/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8jQcKis3mezN1B5lyfPgK9cFCtc_l-r9axiHI1kSVm-fGJM_B9r22988riKPVHLIbPl71hAzBiP-CR7prBrsojUYDIeaJJBkBeIwpAdf6TjIC8-GxfW4x1GeciO8XcjBVT9ovaLq3l4/w400-h225/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />To my complete surprise, I've just discovered that I completely forgot to post this video of my book launch. I was inspired by the way Geraldine Moorkens Byrne (two below me, long blonde hair) organised her book launch. Rather than having something very dry, or having the spotlight 100% on the author, it became a community event. I stole the idea and consequently had a wonderful hour and a bit of Brigit readings and song, from a slew of wonderful folk. So if you like to put faces or voices to your creative Brigit offerings, this video will help you with that.<p></p><p>From the original Facebook post (we launched via Zoom and Facebook Live simultaneously):</p><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1n6g7" data-offset-key="cvsur-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cvsur-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="cvsur-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">That was a joyful gathering, this launch of A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars. Great thanks to those who read or sang, great thanks to Clélie Rich for not only hosting this and dealing with tech issues I didn't even know existed, but for being the editor of my book, and creating an arc for the poems to follow.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1n6g7" data-offset-key="8kiko-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8kiko-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8kiko-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1n6g7" data-offset-key="40grk-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="40grk-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="40grk-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you to everyone for coming today, with hearts open and ears at the ready. </span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1n6g7" data-offset-key="5kgbp-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5kgbp-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5kgbp-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1n6g7" data-offset-key="bmqi5-0-0" style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bmqi5-0-0" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="bmqi5-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Big hugs and Brigit's blessings!</span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bmqi5-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="bmqi5-0-0" style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bmqi5-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="bmqi5-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gmql0nx0 gpro0wi8 a8c37x1j" href="https://www.facebook.com/BrigitsPortal/videos/145640207750783/?__tn__=F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; white-space: normal;" tabindex="0"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t q9se6cdp p984guvr" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -7px; margin-top: -7px;"><div class="px9k8yfb hk9dxy2p" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-top: 7px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 ns63r2gh hrzyx87i o3w64lxj b2s5l15y b1v8xokw ljqsnud1 hzawbc8m" dir="auto" style="color: var(--always-white); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.25rem; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><span class="a8c37x1j ni8dbmo4 stjgntxs l9j0dhe7 ltmttdrg g0qnabr5 ojkyduve" style="display: block; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; position: relative; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars:</span></span><span class="a8c37x1j ni8dbmo4 stjgntxs l9j0dhe7 ltmttdrg g0qnabr5 ojkyduve" style="display: block; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; position: relative; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Book launch with Mael Brigde</span></span></span></div></div></a></span></div></div>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-26196973741398361822022-01-17T13:03:00.003-08:002022-01-17T13:05:55.939-08:00"What She Speaks When I Tend Her Flame" by Erin Aurelia<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiah5cmDQrSKVx4Br15AlH_gUROv3tupcHp56H4_RxNqBgh3Z3U_s_dBIX1R1UPGDFpvb0MLPNTF0sIR0bnCfrq0i5oF5DgJvl-ef5NeX6_v4shgSn2jwIgAeu9viZOcPBe4ADnD-S3cQ8npQ0U3Ii3NRbm0p1qqap5s5SO8hLx6plf9__VsNBow3gb=s3358" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2248" data-original-width="3358" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiah5cmDQrSKVx4Br15AlH_gUROv3tupcHp56H4_RxNqBgh3Z3U_s_dBIX1R1UPGDFpvb0MLPNTF0sIR0bnCfrq0i5oF5DgJvl-ef5NeX6_v4shgSn2jwIgAeu9viZOcPBe4ADnD-S3cQ8npQ0U3Ii3NRbm0p1qqap5s5SO8hLx6plf9__VsNBow3gb=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">What She Speaks When I Tend Her Flame<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Erin Aurelia<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
I transform, she says:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
the raw meat into food<br />
the raw thoughts into poetry<br />
the raw materials into arts and crafts<br />
the raw ore into weapons and tools<br />
the raw plants into healing draughts<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
in your heart, distress to peace<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
in your mind, worry to reassurance<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
in your body, death into life, then life into growth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
in your life, suffering into power<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
I transform, by the grace of the flame<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
She said, you too can embody transformation:<br />
from chaos to order<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">from complacency to vigilance<br />
from disease to healing<br />
from loneliness to togetherness<br />
from otherworlds to thisworld<br />
from outside to in<br />
from self to others<br />
like a gift<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">gifting is gracing<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
gift yourself, gift another, and then another<br />
receive in grace, give in grace, <br />
become grace<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
and then, we <br />
become the Flame,<br />
her flame in this world<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">so shine on: <br />
for her, for you, for all<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Image</u>: "Juvenile bird resting on human hand" by <a class="N2odk RZQOk Vk1a0 AsGGe pgmwB KHq0c" href="https://unsplash.com/@ticurazvannarcis" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; line-height: 1.35; overflow: hidden; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; text-overflow: ellipsis; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Razvan Narcis Ticu</a> in Războieni, Romania. Image from Unsplash.</span><p></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-26537651987467089682021-12-12T17:33:00.000-08:002021-12-12T17:33:56.689-08:00"Brigid of the Flame" a Song by Elaine Ní Chiardha<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zVRhDrTEpCr_HeNTOfLLPU06licZwIpfHIUJ21SvDHN_pici8cBkK-37pbTbKgcyjRwhad3sXzY5XhzJWn5qSp2EyyJdN5BFKbX5toRFay15V1-LfEVZIL3Wwb_8YqUsl6_cNJY1SQs/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zVRhDrTEpCr_HeNTOfLLPU06licZwIpfHIUJ21SvDHN_pici8cBkK-37pbTbKgcyjRwhad3sXzY5XhzJWn5qSp2EyyJdN5BFKbX5toRFay15V1-LfEVZIL3Wwb_8YqUsl6_cNJY1SQs/w400-h225/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB">BRIGID OF THE
FLAME<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB">by Elaine Ní
Chiardha<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB">Brigid of the
flame, oh holy, holy name<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB">Brigid of the
holy well, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB">the source that
brings us home again<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB">Brigid of the
hearth welcomes the stranger<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB">Into her heart,
always with love<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB">Brigid of the
forge, worker of alchemy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB">Turns lead into
gold and darkness to light<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB">Brigid of the
healing well, mantle of care<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB">Cast your love
over us with every prayer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB">Brigid of wisdom,
deep in your waters<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span lang="EN-GB">Guide us on our
journey, each step further<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> <i><u>SoundCloud </u></i><u style="font-style: italic;">Recording</u>: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/singingtheland/brigid-of-the-flame" target="_blank">https://soundcloud.com/singingtheland/brigid-of-the-flame</a></o:p></span></p><div><i style="text-decoration-line: underline;">YouTube</i>: "Brigid of the Flame on Tara" <a href="https://youtu.be/bJVIy--Hf90">https://youtu.be/bJVIy--Hf90</a></div><i style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><div><i style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></i></div>Image</i>: Screenshot from "Brigid of the Flame on Tara" on YouTube.<p></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2687570842108301663.post-23738679823710886112021-10-25T13:16:00.000-07:002021-10-25T13:16:29.672-07:00"Prayer for the Dead" by Mael Brigde<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSxDGSwj_l-gtCNlCxJcsrEW6GqpMJ0cT6zsYcnqVI1pCChhdQ3rpsn8rjZvudU1x5ueC7OJXcABr1izqwvAR8gmnJ7DDYFBhB-uvOOg4LKGCsoy31qYCiZkEwIxmAEJIVcpO8sv9MT4/s600/Vic+%2528July+2021%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSxDGSwj_l-gtCNlCxJcsrEW6GqpMJ0cT6zsYcnqVI1pCChhdQ3rpsn8rjZvudU1x5ueC7OJXcABr1izqwvAR8gmnJ7DDYFBhB-uvOOg4LKGCsoy31qYCiZkEwIxmAEJIVcpO8sv9MT4/s320/Vic+%2528July+2021%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a name="_Toc31211140"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Prayer
for the Dead</span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">dear Brigit</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">I lay my loved one down</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">a last time</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">he is three days dead</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">we have wailed and wept</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">we have sung and laughed</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">we have given thanks</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">we have cried out in anger</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">we have given thanks</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">bless my loved one on his journey</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">let his coracle be light and leaping</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">on the waves</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">salmon his companions</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">and the great whales</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 2.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to guide him to his home</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Image</u>: "Victor James Arnott, July 2021" by his sister, Mael Brigde.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u style="font-style: italic;">SoundCloud</u>: This poem is sung <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-617834076/prayer-for-the-dead" target="_blank">here</a>. I no longer pronounce Brigit's name as I have in this song. I explain why I now say "Bridget" <a href="https://brigitssparklingflame.blogspot.com/2021/03/me-and-my-mouth-time-for-reflection-on.html#more" target="_blank">here</a>, in "Part the Second" which you will find if you click on Read More.</span></p>Mael Brigdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027633351328436270noreply@blogger.com0