Song of Taliesen

13th Century Translation of 6th Century Welsh Bard

I have been a wave on
the ocean
And I have been a fish
therein
I was cast away, and
found again.

I was brought by the 9th
wave
On the shore of the Land
And the sack could not
hold me.

I have ridden beneath
two ravens
And served in the kitchen
And all places are alike
unto me!

Who can tell the Tale of
Arthur?
Who knows the hidden
tales of Arfon?
Who tells of Weyland, or
of Gwynhwyfar?

Who shall tell the tales?
Who shall remember the
stories?

I have been in Caer Sidi
In the Spiral Castle of
Glass
And the letters on the
standing stones
Are no secret from me.

I have searched the
Castle of Glass
And the stys of Annwyn
I have asked of the Wise
And of the Foolish.
I go where I will, for who
shall gainsay me?

Who knows the End
Of the Spiral Dance?
And Who knows the
Beginning?

I have been the narrow
blade of a sword
That kills without cutting
And the Void is my
homeland.

I have passed through Fire,
Water, Earth and Air
And looked upon Chaos
and Order;
All places are alike unto
me!

I have been made of
flowers
And of cold steel and
brass
Fire and ice are alike
unto me.

I have loved a Maiden of
Flowers
And been husband to the
Mother of All
And I have bedded the
Morrigan ....
And lived to sing of it.

Who knows the heart
And secret thoughts of
Annwyn?

I have been in Annwyn
And Tir na n'Og
I have danced the Spiral
Dance
And drunk from the
Hierlas at daybreak.

I am brother to Dragons,
companion of Owls;
And I know the Secret
Name of the Cat.

I am the Oak tree, strong
to the storm,
And I am the grass
growing in the cracks,
bending to every breeze.

I am the lovers' whisper,
in the deeps of love
And I am the shout of the
captains on the
battlefield.
I am the Song of the
Birds
And the endless murmur
of the mountain stream.

Many names have I, but
only one Nature;
I am the Singer, and the
Song,
And I hold Three Things
in trust.

The words of the scholars
are clear to me
And the secrets of the
Ollamhs

I invoke the blessings of
the Inspirer of Wisdom,
And the Maker of Poets.

I am the Lapwing: I
disguise the Secret!

I am the Roebuck: I hide
the Secret!

I am the Hound with Red
Ears: I guard the Secret! I am but a Fool;
It is but my Nature.
I AM! I WAS! I WILL
BE!

I have been a wave on the
ocean
And I have been a fish
therein
I was cast away, and
found again.

Many things am I; many
things know I;
But no man knows the
Grave of Arthur.

Celtic Lion

Scribed this 14th day of November, 1997

I prithee, an thou hast enjoyed rest and merriment whilst pausing at the Gallery, scribe thy thoughts to the good gentle below.

songsmith@oocities.com
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