Religion
Charms and Invocations: Charms Against Sorrow
Translated by Alfred Perceval Graves (1917) · From A Celtic Psaltery (1917)
A charm whereunto grief must yield--
The Charm of Michael with the Shield.
Charms before which all sorrows fail--
The Palm-branch of Christ and Brigit's Veil.
The charm Christ set for Himself, when the Godhead within Him darkened;
And when He cried from the Cross that His Father no longer hearkened.
When you are bound down by the Cross and night is blackest before you,
A charm that shall lift off sorrow's weight and to joyful hope restore you.
A charm to be said at sunrise when your hands your heart are crushing,
When the eyes are red with weeping and the madness of grief outrushing.
A charm with not even a whisper to spare,
But only the silent prayer.
Codex Note
Early Irish charm.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Old Irish). “Charms and Invocations: Charms Against Sorrow.” Translated by Alfred Perceval Graves. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-irish/130/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Old Irish). “Charms and Invocations: Charms Against Sorrow.” Translated by Alfred Perceval Graves. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-irish/130/.
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