Religion

The Féilire of Adamnan

by Anonymous (Old Irish) c. 8th–12th century

Translated by P. J. McCall (in Hull, The Poem-Book of the Gael, 1913) · From The Poem-Book of the Gael (1913)

Religion

Saints of Four Seasons!
Saints of the Year!
Loving, I pray to you; longing, I say to you:
Save me from angers, dreeings, and dangers!
Saints of Four Seasons!
Saints of the Year!

Saints of Green Springtime!
Saints of the Year!
Patraic and Grighair, Brighid be near!
My last breath gather with God's Foster Father!
Saints of Green Springtime!
Saints of the Year!

Saints of Gold Summer!
Saints of the Year!
(Poesy wingeth me! Fancy far bringeth me!)
Guide ye me on to Mary's Sweet Son!
Saints of Gold Summer!
Saints of the Year!

Saints of Red Autumn!
Saints of the Year!
Lo! I am cheery! Michil and Mary
Open wide Heaven to my soul bereaven!
Saints of Red Autumn!
Saints of the Year!

Saints of Grey Winter
Saints of the Year!
Outside God's Palace fiends wait in malice--
Let them not win my soul going in!
Saints of Grey Winter!
Saints of the Year!

Saints of Four Seasons!
Saints of the Year!
Waking or sleeping, to my grave creeping,
Life in its Night, hold me God's light!
Saints of Four Seasons!
Saints of the Year!

MLA

Anonymous (Old Irish). “The Féilire of Adamnan.” Translated by P. J. McCall. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-irish/88/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Old Irish). “The Féilire of Adamnan.” Translated by P. J. McCall. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-irish/88/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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