Monday 1 February 2016

Brighid’s Day February 1st

Today is Brighid’s Day, an internationally known Goddess and Saint of Ireland, She is in fact the only female Christian deity that I know of who is revered as a saint and who was never actually canonised. Such is the power of the people and the whimsical nature of the church -  however, that is a debate for another day.

Below is a link of to a fabulous programme about Herself which I encourage you to watchhttp://www.tg4.ie/en/player/home/?pid=4730382145001

A few years ago I composed a poem with Her in mind, although I did not name it so and today I have added two more lines below the original.


SOME CALL HER MOTHER.


Some call her Mother. The Mistress of this land

Her body hidden haunts wild places for man

Whose calloused raw hands worked nippled

Cairns to stand proud on mountains

Hunted, fought bloodily among heathered tresses

Ploughed deeply her fertile plains to feed

Warrior lords, foreign, crippled with greed.

In Her a sea smooth cave, that once sheltered Fintan.

Crabs with dead mens fingers, sought a womb watery grave.

To rebirth rebellion - Freedom and the marrow

Of Her Favour!

She walks still this land breathing out love and inspiration

To those who seek justice for all of her people.

Today here in Ireland this day is also the beginning of Spring and in my garden the Snowdrops are in full bloom and a crocus has just popped out.
Wishing you all a Happy Brighid's Day wherever you are in the world.

22 comments:

  1. Happy St Brighid's day to you too, Mel. A lovely poem and a wonderful harbinger of spring!

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    1. Thank you Val many happy returns :)
      You can see more about Brighid here http://theeverlivingones.blogspot.ie

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  2. Hi Mel - I started watching and will return ... the film has some fascinating takes on St Brighid's life and Celtic life in general ...

    Well - it is good February 1st has finally come round ... and Spring will really spring soon. I'm sure the snowdrops and crocuses are out .. I've only seen daffodils so far ...

    She does still walk this land .. breathing out love and inspiration ... wonderful poem with your last two lines - justice for all her peoples ... far and wide as the Celtics spread ...

    Thanks for the reminder and knowledge about her day ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Thank you very much for your comments Hilary and it was only today that I added those two lines :)

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  3. I like your poem Heron. I knew nothing at all about St Brighid until I read your post.

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    1. Am glad to have widened your knowledge and thank you for the comment Pat.

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  4. Candles and bath are prepared for Imbolc and I just might include your poem in the ritual.

    May St. Brighid bestow many blessings for your new year.

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    1. Thank you for your good wishes and enjoy your bath Toni.

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  5. What an interesting post today.
    I have a Brigid's Cross framed in my home and now and
    now know more about her.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. Thank you Parsnip and if you visit the everlivingones.blogspot.ie you will know more :)

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  6. Love this poem! My crocus popped out as well. Good to see their cheerful yellow heads :)

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    1. Thank you Tilda, yes the yellow crocus to me is a sign of sunshine the warming earth.

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  7. Happy Brighid's Day dear Heron! I can see that Her Fire of Inspiration burns brightly within! Brighid's Blessings on ye and Mrs H as we go another quarter turn of the Wheel x hugs

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    1. Thanks and many happy returns to you and yours.

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  8. (Belated) Happy Brighid's Day to you and J!!

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  9. Snowdrops out here in the Cotswolds too - and some daffs.

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    1. Our daffodils are in bud in the back garden. The temperature has these last few days dropped to normal and a few minutes ago there was a snowfall which I think will put a brake on growth!
      Thank you for your comment Bill.

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  10. I can feel the power of the Goddess in your poem, beautiful xxx

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    1. Thank you very much for your appreciation Fran x

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  11. I just saw this - love your poem.

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