by Searles O'Dubhain
At the end of Samhain 2005, Searles O'Dubhain posted this poem to alt.religion.druid. It is a rare thing in the Druidic Usenet corpus: not an essay, not a FAQ, not a scholarly argument, but a poem — a cosmogonic verse that moves from the first Darkness through the birth of the gods to the ongoing dance of creation.
The Cailleach rises from frozen depths. The Moon awakens. Sun and Moon dance into being as brother and sister. The deities of Ireland — Brighid and Delbaeth, the three Queens (Ériu, Fodla, Banba), the three Kings (Mac Gréine, Mac Cécht, Mac Cuill) — are named in catalogue, after the Irish bardic manner. Then the poem lifts into its refrain: Nine Woods, Nine Ways, Nine Men; Nine Maidens, Nine Fires, Nine Offerings.
This is the poetic theology of Celtic Druidry in its fullest expression — the sacred number nine, the three-in-one, the dance between the Many and the One. Searles wrote this poem himself, in the tradition of the Filidh, giving the old names their modern music.
Out of frozen depths arose the Darkness,
Creating her opposite in a world just begun.
Across nine waves as each was created she strode,
Dropping the boulders of seven lives from her apron.
Falling into a Sea that knew itself not,
Each landed in a place that was yet to be.
Symbols on stone cried out to one another,
In silence, awaiting the Song and the Tree.
Horns of a Bull bugled forth the dilemma,
And Fate looked around, within and without.
A day would have dawned as the winds howled,
Eight winds of destiny, eight fearful shouts.
Time was born and motion began,
As the Mind of the Moon Awakened.
Silver waves crested across the Sea of horses,
Heralding the Dawn as she beckoned.
One of silver and one of gold danced for being,
Alive as brother and sister to all things.
A face for the eyes of the living creature,
A word along an edge, a marriage of rings.
The fire from below and here and above,
Beat as a heart within the hearth of creation.
Thoughts exploded in fireflies of wonder,
As first Light pierced the wells of isolation.
Cailleach and Hag, Beautiful Maiden, Fire Starter,
First Druid and Bard, Stone and Singer's Sword,
Sacred Tree and Flaming Tongue, Twin Fires of Love,
High One, Phantom Queen, Washer at the Ford.
Bright Faced, Beautiful Sight, Hazel of Wisdom,
Silver One and Crystal Ship, Thoughtful One,
All of all, Time of time, Truth of truth,
Dance of Death, Life of life, Great Eternal Sun.
Bua and Brighid, Delbaeth the Many,
White Knee, Radiant Brow, sworn before Ogma,
Bile and Fire Mouth, Bealtaine of cleansing,
Three Queens, Ériu, Fodla, and Banba.
Mac Gréine, Mac Cécht, Mac Cuill, Three Kings,
Sage's Seat, Wave-Sweeper, Sea's Son,
Good God, Harp's Woods, Collar and Cup,
Staff of Life, Stroke of Death, Bounteous Cauldron.
Words of Life, the Edge of a Blade,
Binding All-heal, Herbs for Year's Days,
Mysteries of Knowing and Silence of Void,
Sister's Lost Apron to show us the Ways.
Nine Woods, Nine Ways, Nine Men,
Nine Maidens, Nine Fires, Nine Offerings,
Nine Parts, Nine Trees, Nine Noble Truths,
Nine Virtues, Nine Qualities, Nine Meanings.
Completion and Center, Ongoing in Motion,
One from the Many and Many from the One.
Giving and taking, stones, Land and Green Growing,
Rain, breath and seeds sowing in the Sun.
Stars above Land, Peace All Around,
Blessings of Sky and Sea's Surrounding.
Stones and Secrets, Stones as Witness,
Wild Face and Light Lips, Endlessly Dancing.
Colophon
Written by Searles O'Dubhain and posted to alt.religion.druid on 30 November 2005, at the end of the Samhain season. Searles O'Dubhain was a practitioner and teacher of Celtic Druidry and founder of The Summerlands. This poem is his own original composition in the tradition of the Irish Filidh, drawing on the cosmological imagery and sacred numerology of Irish Celtic tradition.
Preserved from the Usenet archive for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026. Original Message-ID: [email protected]
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