Today’s gift from the used book store and Saint Columba / Colmcille on this stormy September day…
Saint Colm-Cille, Brother Diarmuid, And The Crane
Three days hence I bid thee wait
Westward of the island, late,
Before the dawn lights up the sky,
For suddenly a crane will fly
Storm-driven from the Irish shore
By Autumnal gales that bore
Her, where the whirling currents meet
To fall exhausted at thy feet.
Pray take her to the sheiling there
And give to her thy loving care,
Until three nights have passed away
And she will no longer stay
With us, her little exile o’er
Then let her fly to that sweet shore
Where thou and I first breathed the air,
So I commend her to thy care.
As he foretold it came to pass,
And three days afterwards at Mass
“God bless thee son” Saint Colm said
“May all thy kindness be repaid.”
And Diarmuid answered “Would that we
Could follow her across the sea,
Perchance the weary wings that glide
Above the Irish countryside
Shall settle when the sun is low
Among the reeds at Drumahoe.”
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