BIRDS OF DESTRUCTION
War goddesses in the form of birds scream over battlefields and settle on the shoulders of those about to die. After the battle, CROWS RAVENS and EAGLES feed on the dead. In this extract from the Canu Heledd cycle, Princess Heledd addresses the eagles that feast on the corpses of her brother King Cynddylan and his warriors, who dies defending the town of trenn on the welsh borders.
‘’Grey-Crested eagle of Pengwern, tonight
From high on it shrieks,
greedy for the flesh of the one I love.
Grey-Crested eagle of Pengwern, tonight
From the heights it crys,
Greedy for Cynddylan’s flesh
Grey-Crested eagle of Pengwern, tonight
In its talon opened wide,
Greedy for the flesh I love.
Eagle of Pengwern, from afar it calls tonight,
Searching for the blood of men.
Trenn will be called an unfortunate town.
Eagle of pengwern, from afar it calls tonight,
Searching for the blood of men.
Trenn will be called a blood-speckled town.’’
The Celtic Book of Living and Dying (the illustrated guide to Celtic wisdom), Juliette Wood, Pub Duncan Baird Publishers,
Just a little something I found, not to be taken too seriously I think
ReplyDeletebut yet there is always some measure of truth in these tales
ReplyDeleteSorry to interject a completely silly note here, but I found the first words of this entry hilarious until I adjusted my glasses. I read, "We goddesses in the form of birds scream"! LOL But I enjoyed the real passage too.
ReplyDeleteLOL................Like that so much I am tempted to change it....
ReplyDeleteOh thank you for that, I was thinking "Oh good grief, what to think here?" until I read that comment. I started to go off in the direction of Poe and his raven, but decided nevermore and to flap off into the sunset. Bye for now.
ReplyDeleteWOW, this is awesome! i'm still working my way through the tibetan book of the living and the dying, perhaps i will read this one in the future.
ReplyDeletewell if you are interested I found a copy for sale on e-bay while looking for a decent picture of it
ReplyDeleteThank you Loretta!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant - and a good link to my black bird :)))
This is fantastic! Thanks for sharing. Enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDelete