Celtic Telt

 They sit astride their steeds 

Sipping honey mead

Feeling clouds ride wind

And fearing not their ends

 

Poets all with feelings shown

Proud of tears that fall they own

Wild and free of tethered world

Celtic warriors all

 

With solid steadfast  standing tall

Rules to live by  in a meld

A code of hillsides values  held

Before the Christian fall

 

They knew of brotherhood and love

Their clan laws kept their deeds above

The grasping clutch of evil greed

To recognize a friend in need

 

And then the Welshman came to tell

Of waiting paradise and Hell

Do unto others praise be god

Bend proud heads and kiss the sod

 

It sounded fine it sounded good

Soon all was lost misunderstood 

And kings made laws for their own good

And Troubles bathed in brothers' blood

 

It matters not to wonder why

Enough to make a grown man cry

As celtic warrior sons just die

On either side of Christian laws

 

I sit astride my steed and pause

With eyes too teared to see

What is this cloud of wind tossed sky

Am I too sad to die?

Reviews

[Pete Langley]

Yes, the futility of religious and territorial war. Uffa and King James was one of these, as were countless battles before and since. This piece is a fine commentary. P.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Great story poem... I can clearly see the development of the characters through the imagery and the descriptors. For me, the last stanza truly brought things together and made me sit back and think for a moment. "What is this cloud of wind tossed sky/Am I too sad to die?" -- what a line...and with so many valuable interpretations.

[JohnL]

Second try - I thought something went wrong with the first.
The mystery that surrounds all things Celtic is well captured here. I am almost in mists and rain and moorland and hills - A mead stirrup cup, a feeling for clouds, with courage, wildness and a warrior heritage. Verily I am amongst it all living as I do within an hours drive of Eyriri, the mountain stronghold not even the Romans breached. What a breed to. Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall, Northumberland. I've visited them all, benefited from the Christianity they spread, loved their architecture and symbolism and admired their deeds of grace and courage. Have a look at my piece on Lindifarne if you can.
Never put down by outside man but, like all geat civilisations, by strife within. Such is mankind.
I loved this poem for its grasp and its atmosphere - it spoke to me.
John