The Morrigan’s Prophecy

From “the Morrigan’s prophecy” spoken at the close of the battle of Moytura. (based on the translation by Isolde Carmody)

Beneath the peaceful heavens lies the land.

It rests beneath the bowl of the bright sky.

The land lies, itself a dish, a cup of honeyed strength, there, for the taking, offering strength to each

There it lies, the splendour of the land.

The land is like a mead worth the brewing, worth the drinking.

It stores for us the gifts of summer even in winter.

It protects and armours us, a spear upon a shield

Here we can make for ourselves strong places, the fist holding the shield

Here we can build safe places, our spear-bristling enclosures.

This is where we will turn the earth. This is where we will stay.

And here will our children live to the third of three generations

Here there will be a forest point of field fences

The horn counting of many cows

And the encircling of many fields

There will be sheltering trees

So fodderful of beech mast that the trees themselves will be weary with the weight.

In this land will come abundance bringing:

Wealth for our children

Every boy a warrior,

Every watch dog, warrior-fierce

The wood of every tree, spear-worthy

The fire from every stone a molten spear-stream

Every stone a firm foundation

Every field full of cows

Every cow calf-fertile

Our land shall be rich with banks in birdsong

Grey deer before Spring

And fruitful Autumns

The plain shall be thronged from the hills to the shore.

Full and fertile.

And as time runs its sharp and shadowy journey, this shall be true.

This shall be the story of the land and its people

We shall have peace beneath the heavens.

Forever

Chris Thompson

2012