Post by Craig on Jul 19, 2005 7:15:37 GMT -1
There is a discussion going on about 'Local Gods' and I thought I would put this here as it relates to the spirit of the Mawddach, an estuary in mid-Wales.
Hiraeth
The third and final part of the ‘Mawddach Trilogy’. It reflects strongly on my work-imposed exile from my home and the influence of what the Welsh call ‘Hiraeth’. This feeling is more than mere homesickness and represents a real heart-breaking longing.
In the city I hear her,
Above the traffic’s awful roar,
I hear the seagulls calling,
Over her storm-swept shore.
In the factory yard I see her,
In the corner of my sight,
Mighty Oaks bowing in the wind,
Neath the mountains’ awful might.
Mawddach! Mawddach!
I have not forgotten your song.
Mawddach! Spirit of my heart.
I will return afore too long.
Amidst the people I can feel her,
In all the madness and pain,
Her streams murmur softly to me,
To tread her paths again.
In the market I scent her,
Between the exotic and the trash,
Chestnut blossom, Heather bloom,
Salt sea spray and Mountain Ash.
Mawddach! Mawddach!
I have not forgotten your song.
Mawddach! Spirit of my heart.
I will return afore too long.
In a thousand reflected moments,
I see her dance and tease,
Setting the Hiraeth upon me,
So I shall know no ease.
The albums of my distant youth,
Thrown open before my sight,
Friends long gone walk my dreams,
In memory’s golden, dappled light.
Mawddach! Mawddach!
I have not forgotten your song.
Mawddach! Spirit of my heart.
I will return afore too long.
And when my soul can no more be,
Separated from my ancient land,
She will gather up those dreams,
And take them to the verdant strand.
Where wooded hill meets river’s edge,
I first drew my sacred space,
Anchored my soul there to the land,
And first gazed upon her face.
Mawddach! Mawddach!
I have not forgotten your song.
Mawddach! Spirit of my heart.
I will return before too long.
The Hiraeth is upon me now,
I will soon be on my way.
The mother of my people calls me,
And for once I shall obey.
Where the sky meets the sea,
And both hold with the land,
I shall draw my circle once again,
And reach out for her hand.
Mawddach! Mawddach!
I will always sing your song.
Mawddach! Spirit of my heart.
I have been away too long.
Hiraeth
The third and final part of the ‘Mawddach Trilogy’. It reflects strongly on my work-imposed exile from my home and the influence of what the Welsh call ‘Hiraeth’. This feeling is more than mere homesickness and represents a real heart-breaking longing.
In the city I hear her,
Above the traffic’s awful roar,
I hear the seagulls calling,
Over her storm-swept shore.
In the factory yard I see her,
In the corner of my sight,
Mighty Oaks bowing in the wind,
Neath the mountains’ awful might.
Mawddach! Mawddach!
I have not forgotten your song.
Mawddach! Spirit of my heart.
I will return afore too long.
Amidst the people I can feel her,
In all the madness and pain,
Her streams murmur softly to me,
To tread her paths again.
In the market I scent her,
Between the exotic and the trash,
Chestnut blossom, Heather bloom,
Salt sea spray and Mountain Ash.
Mawddach! Mawddach!
I have not forgotten your song.
Mawddach! Spirit of my heart.
I will return afore too long.
In a thousand reflected moments,
I see her dance and tease,
Setting the Hiraeth upon me,
So I shall know no ease.
The albums of my distant youth,
Thrown open before my sight,
Friends long gone walk my dreams,
In memory’s golden, dappled light.
Mawddach! Mawddach!
I have not forgotten your song.
Mawddach! Spirit of my heart.
I will return afore too long.
And when my soul can no more be,
Separated from my ancient land,
She will gather up those dreams,
And take them to the verdant strand.
Where wooded hill meets river’s edge,
I first drew my sacred space,
Anchored my soul there to the land,
And first gazed upon her face.
Mawddach! Mawddach!
I have not forgotten your song.
Mawddach! Spirit of my heart.
I will return before too long.
The Hiraeth is upon me now,
I will soon be on my way.
The mother of my people calls me,
And for once I shall obey.
Where the sky meets the sea,
And both hold with the land,
I shall draw my circle once again,
And reach out for her hand.
Mawddach! Mawddach!
I will always sing your song.
Mawddach! Spirit of my heart.
I have been away too long.
