celtic poetry



Contained herein are the fabulous workings of famous Irish, Welsh, and English bards and poets. Within the Celtic culture literary expression encircled the people and became a focal point in their life. Here you will be aquainted with some of the most well known Celtic scribes and their inspiring works.


Please note that most of the poems and verse listed here are taken from "The Celtic Quest" edited by Jane Lahr © 10/98. These texts may be reprinted on other pages provided proper copyrite and author attribution are present and you email me with your URL so I can have a look. In addition, all photos here are original images and may not be used on other pages unless I provide expressed written premission.






Auguries Of Innocence

By: William Blake

To see a World in a Grain of Sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand

And Eternity in an hour




Summer is Gone

By: Anonymous, 9th century

My tidings for you: the stag bells,

Winter snows, summer is gone.


Wind high and cold, low the sun.

Short his course, sea running high.


Deep-red the bracken, its shape all gone-

The wild-goose has raised his wonted cry.


Cold has caught the wings of birds:

Season of ice-these are my tidings.






Serpent's Tail

By: Robert Graves

When you are old as I now am

I shall be young as you, my lamb;

For lest love's timely force should fail

The Serpent swallows his own tail.





The Hills of Cualann

By: Anonymous, 8th century

In the youth of summer

The hills of Cualann

Are two golden horns,

Two breasts of childing,

Two tents of light


In the ancient winter

They are two rusted swords,

Two waves of darkness,

Two moons of ice.






The Coming of Wisdom with Time

By: William Yeats

Though leaves are many, the root is one;

Though all the lying days of my youth

I swayed my leaves and flowers in the sun;

Now I may wither into the truth.




Lovelier Than the Sun

By: Anonymous, 17th century

Lovely is the sun's smile as it rises in its full brilliance,

lovely are the moon's smiles at night,

more lovely is my darling's cheek.


The moon is pretty on the waves,

the stars are pretty on a bright night,

but neither stars nor moon are half so pretty as my darling.





Into the Mystic

By: Van Morrison

We were born before the wind

Also younger than the sun

Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic

Hark, now hear the sailors cry

Smell the sea and feel the sky

Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic





The blessing of the Elements

By: Saint Patrick

I rise today

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of sun,

Radiance of moon,

Splendour of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.





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