Deep Peace

eurogamer.net

Susan's prompt at Mid Week Motif is CELEBRATE, with a view towards celebrating the arrival of spring, May Day or Walpurgis Night. May Day is related to the Celtic festival of Beltane and, as my roots are Irish, I decided to head in that direction.......also in my head is that most beautiful Celtic poem Deep peace by Celtic visionary Fiona MacLeod. I'll give the old noggin a whirl, stop it the third time 'round, and we'll see where I wind up.

Bedeck the lowing cattle

with yellow flowers,

and trot them round the meadow,

then send them  out

to the far summer pastures,

as this soft azure evening

is falling.

All the menfolk are gathering 

in the common,

to light the communal fire.

Let us gather round the flames,

faces flickering in its light,

and ask Fire for protection.

Deep peace, deep peace

is all we are asking.

Deep peace of the spring night,

filled with starshine,

and of tomorrow's golden morn, 

fresh and new-rising.

I shall take my torch 

and light it from the coals, 

carry it safely home

to light my own hearth fire,

snuffed out by the last cold winter wind.

But first,we women-of-the-straggly-hair 

must hoist our skirts up high

and take long-legged leaps

across the flames.

Set your intention. 

If you make it across

the fire without being burned,

you are already blessed.

Deep peace of the first of May to you.

Deep peace of the bee-buzz in the roses.

Deep peace of the skybird's joyous call.

Deep peace. 

In your heart of hearts,

may it be always newly spring.

When I lived in Tofino, at one of our staff trainings at the treatment centre, we were told about the Celtic tradition of putting out the winter fires in all of the houses, and gathering on the common - where each family took home hot coals from the communal fire, to warm their own hearth fires - something we were trying to do in the Centre - send the families home with some living coals to warm their own homes. Sigh. I miss that place.