Uilleann those pipes they are that cry
my bardic heart for me,
and delve historic my blood-deep memories,
as I in mystic interplay
listen to Chieftains’ haunting harmonies.
Fingers singing his strings to my soul,
the cruitire in his playing carries me
to Hill of Tara, there to hear it plucked primal,
and give me eyes to sweep
the ancient landscape round.
Vibrant Fiddle with ringing Tiompan joins
Pennywhistle trilling bright to dance me joyous
‘long the edge of kills with rowans lined,
and into greening valleys hazed
with morning’s lifting mists.
Bodhran beating time and the lilting vocals baritone,
strikes my rhythm Gaelic in the bones
and attunes my lyric heart
to chop of Loch nEathach’s waves
‘gainst clinker hulls and pulling oars.
Cor Anglais and wooden flute caress
my ears with deep and woodland sounds,
then sweeps me the fertile meadows ‘or
with tunes as old as runes once carved
on Celtic Cross where faith abides.
And all this sweet melancholy rises
strong in Irish melodies renewed,
as the new-played ancient music
carries me ancestral
to Contae Ard Mhacha.
James Gagiikwe © 2008
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Reviews
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Sure and this is one fine song sung out o' the cave, J.G., a lilting poem that carries this hibernating bard, "ancestral / to Armagh." I'm glad you staggered out for this one. Oldtime Celtic music, although I don't get to listen to it often in the States, is always appealing - a-pealing - to my own ears too. And you've done it a tenderly sweet praise here for the voice of "primal" Ireland and the skill of The Chieftans.
You sent me to the dictionary for "uillean" and "rowan", and I thank you for those. Knowing "rowan", especially, made that 3rd stanza even more melodic for my eyes and ears. The whole tuneful piece is "sweet melancholy" for sure. Nice composing.
Lad
Hope your thesis is coming along as well as this poem. By the way, what's the subject of that thesis?. Rewarded 8
Lad
February 24
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