84. Colum-Cille’s Farewell to Ireland

ALAS for the voyage, O High King of Heaven,

Enjoined upon me,

For that I on the red plain of bloody Cooldrevin

Was present to see.

How happy the son is of Dima; no sorrow

For him is designed,

He is having, this hour, round his own hill in Durrow,

The wish of his mind.

The sounds of the winds in the elms, like strings of

A harp being played,

The note of a blackbird that claps with the wings of

Delight in the shade.

With him in Ros-Grencha the cattle are lowing

At earliest dawn,

On the brink of the summer the pigeons are cooing

And doves in the lawn.

Three things am I leaving behind me, the very

Most dear that I know,

Tir-Leedach I’m leaving, and Durrow and Derry;

Alas, I must go!

Yet my visit and feasting with Comgall have eased me

At Cainneach’s right hand,

And all but thy government, Eiré, have pleased me,

Thou waterful land.