Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DEATH OF SUALTEM, by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE Poet's Biography First Line: After the brown bull passed from cooley's fields Last Line: And all about him waves the heavy gorse. Subject(s): Death; Family Life - Ireland; Love; War; Dead, The | ||||||||
AFTER the brown bull passed from Cooley's fields And all Muirevne was a wail of pain, Sualtem came at evening thro' the slain And heard a noise like water rushing loud, A thunder like the noise of mighty shields. And in his dread he shouted: "Earth is bowed, The heavens are split and stars make war with stars And the sea runs in fear!" For all his scars He hastened to Dun Dealgan, and there found It was his son, Cuculain, making moan. His hair was red with blood, and he was wound In wicker full of grass, and a cold stone Was on his head. "Cuculain, is it so?" Sualtem said, and then, "My hair is snow, My strength leaks thro' my wounds, but I will die Avenging you." And then Cuculain said: "Not so, old father, but take horse and ride To Emain Macha, and tell Connor this." Sualtem from his red lips took a kiss, And turned the stone upon Cuculain's head. The Lia-Macha with a heavy sigh Ran up and halted by his wounded side. In Emain Macha to low lights and song Connor was dreaming of the beauteous Maeve. He saw her as at first, by Shannon's wave, Her insteps in the water, mounds of white. It was in Spring, and music loud and strong Rocked all the coloured woods, and the blue height Of heaven was round the lark, and in his heart There was a pain of love. Then with a start He wakened as a loud voice from below Shouted, "The land is robbed, the women shamed, The children stolen, and Cuculain low!" Then Connor rose, his war-worn soul inflamed, And shouted down for Cathbad; then to greet The messenger he hurried to the street. And there he saw Sualtem shouting still The message of Muirevne 'mid the sound Of hurried bucklings and uneasy horse. At sight of him the Lia-Macha wheeled, So that Sualtem fell upon his shield, And his grey head came shouting to the ground. They buried him by moonlight on the hill, And all about him waves the heavy gorse. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND EVENING CLOUDS by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE |
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