The Song of Lugh Lamhfhada...

The Song of Lugh and Sreng

In times of old, when magic was as commonplace
As the vast ocean and the ever patient Mother Earth,
As the sun's flames who with their light and warmth bring
mirth
And all the stars who do at night the sable darkness grace,
In such old times there came to Ireland a mystic race.

Tuatha de Danann, the children of Danu, they were
And they brough with them four great treasures of great
might:
To feed their hungry, slay their foes, to give their chosen
ones the second sight.
The tales of these strange boons found everywhere an eager ear



And reached at last King Sreng who with a host of armed
men drew near.

Tuatha de Danann's Nuada King prayed for a parley with
the warlike Sreng,
An' Sreng yield half the island, they could live in peace --
Else war should rage and blood would flow without
surcease.
And Sreng spoke with his chieftains. After lengthy reckoning,
He did return and spoke, "Then let the noise of war and murder ring!"

Two fearsome hosts did at Moytura meet, and fearsome
were the cries of war and death,
As men with sword and axe and spear tore helmets,
shields and mail-coats,
And blood of brothers, fathers, sons stained fields and
pastures and the muddy roads.
The echoes of the mayhem rang through vales and could
be heard in city and on heath.
Too great the woe! too large the count of those who gave
their dying breath!

Alas! Nuada King his arm did lose, though he was
valorous and brave,
And soreley maimed thus could not claim the victory:
For whole in body must the Lord of the Tuatha be.
And Sreng's revenge upon Nuada's folk was swift and
grave:
To those he did not slay, a barren exile 'twas he gave.

Sreng took their meadows rich and fertile lands,
And to the forests wild he banished the children of Danu.
Among these hapless souls was found the fair Tailtiu.
She had a handsome son named Lugh, was skilled and
strong as any man.
"My mother dear, " he said. "I shall redeem my folk when
grown I am."

The years passed on, and Lugh advanced in stature and
in skill
And mastered all the skills of metalcraft and weaponry,
Of magic, music, ancient lore and poetry.
At length he journeyed on to mystic Tara Hill,
And bade the guard, "Unbolt the gates; this is my will."

"We have a metalsmith and men who master spear and
sword, "
Spoke the Old Guard with surly mien and did not yield.
"And we have men who know the ways to master farm and
field,
And men who know the ancient songs, the power of song
and word.



What canst thou offer us that we should grant thee board?"

"Have you a man who masters all this things, I pray, " Lugh
spoke.
"No, " said the old guard and he unbolted then the heavy
gate.
"Lest thou wilt join our lot and share our fate."
"I come here to redeem my people from cruel Sreng's
oppressive yoke, "
Lugh said. "To give back peace and freedom to my kin and
folk."

Two mighty hosts did at Moytura meet, and fearsome
were the cries of war and death,
As men with sword and axe and spear tore helmets,
shields and mail-coats,
And blood of brothers, fathers, sons stained fields and
pastures and the muddy roads.
The echoes of the mayhem rang through vales and could
be heard in city and on heath.
Too great the woe! too large the count of those who gave
their dying breath!

And yet, great Sreng did lose the day -- it mattered not how
mighty was his host.
Far in the sky the kites of battle soared,
And Lugh excelled in all the skills and arts of war.
Sreng did pay for his greed at mighty cost:
Despite his strength and cruelty, 'twas he who lost.

All Rights Reserved / Copyright: Jeva Singh Anand 2008.

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