Wow. You know you are VERY close to something when you can’t figure out if you wrote it or if it is from an old manuscript. I finally figured it out. I wrote it. Of course, it was drawn from an old manuscript, but still, you’d think I’d know which was which…
Daughter of the Dagda
she it was who hadFea and Femenand Cirbking of rams
after eachgreat plains were named
with them was Triathking of swine
among themthree demon voicesafter transgression
whistlingweepinglamentation
this was Brigitdaughter of The Good Godwith herall might in creatureswith herwild cries in the night
—Mael Brigde
Drawn from *Lebor Gabála Érenn, Vol. 4*:
“Brigit the poetess, daughter of the Dagda, with her were Fe and Men, the two kings of oxen, from whom is Femen [called]. And with her was Triath, king of her boars, from whom is Treithirne [called]. And with her were heard, the three demonic sounds after transgressions in Ireland, whistling and weeping and lamentation .
“And also with her was Cirb king of the rams, from whom is Mag Cirb [called]. With them were Cerman and Cermat and the Mac Oc.” (translation Daimler, 2015).
—Morgan Daimler, Pagan Portals - Brigid, pg. 27.
Or MacAlister’s translation:
“She it is who had (two sacred cattle named) Fea [Fe] and Femen [Men] the two oxen of Dil, from whom are named Mag Fea and Mag Femen. With them was Triath, king of the swine (boars), from whom is Tretherne. Among them were heard three demon voices in Ireland after plunder, to wit, whistling, outcry (weeping) and groaning (lamentation),” and “she had Cirb, king of the wethers, from whom is Mag Cirb named.”
—Macalister, *Lebor Gabála Érenn, Vol. 4*
I am delving into all of this again in order to plan my workshop on Brigit and the voice for Vancouver Pagan Awareness Day.
Poem “Daughter of the Dagda” is from A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars by Mael Brigde.
Image of handsome wild boar with muddy snout. Photo by Kevin Jackson on Unsplash.
