Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SHAVING OF MURDOCH, by MUIREDACH O'DALY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SHAVING OF MURDOCH, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Murdoch, whet thy razor's edge
Last Line: Mary, soft flower of jesse's stem.
Alternate Author Name(s): O'daky, Murragh; Murdoch The Scotchman; O'daly, Murrough; Muiredach Albanach; O'daly, Murdoch
Subject(s): Monasteries; Abbeys


Murdoch, whet thy razor's edge,
Our crowns to pledge to Heaven's Ardrigh!
Vow we now our hair fine-tressed
To the Blessed Trinity!

Now my head I shear to Mary;
'Tis a true heart's very due.
Shapely, soft-eyed chieftain now
Shear thy brow to Mary, too!

Seldom on thy brow, fair chief,
Hath a barbing knife been plied;
Oft the fairest of Princesses
Combed her tresses at thy side.

Whenso'er that we did bathe
We found no scathe, yourself and I,
With Brian of the well-curled locks,
From hidden rocks and currents wry.

And well I mind what once befell
Beside the well of fair Boru--
I swam a race with Ua Chais
The icy flood of Fergus through.

When hand to hand the bank we reached,
Swift foot to foot we stretched again,
Till Duncan Cairbre, chief of chiefs,
Gave us three knives--not now in vain.

No other blades such temper have;
Then Murdoch shave with easy art;
Whet, Cathal of the Wine Red Hand,
Thy victor brand, in peaceful part.

Then our shorn heads from weather wild
Shield, Daughter mild of Joachim,
Preserve us from the sun's fierce power,
Mary, soft flower of Jesse's stem.






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