The Bandruidh1
With woven green branches1
All of the quicken2
The Bandruidh waveth3
The soft Airs nigh.4
The Bandruidh
Come, air of the mountain, what news of the mountain,5
Does the green moss cling to the claw of the eagle ?6
The Mountain Air
The green moss clings to the claw of the eagle.7
The Bandruidh
Come, air of the hill-slope, what news of the hill-slope,8
Does the red stag sniff at the coming of green ?9
The Upland Air
The red stag sniffs at the coming of green.10
1 The Bandruidh : literally, the Druidess; commonly, the Sorceress ; poetically,
the
Green Lady, i.e. Spring.
Green Lady, i.e. Spring.
The Bandruidh
Come, air of the corries, what news of the corries,11
Does the hart’s-tongue sprout where the waterfalls leap ?12
The Air of the Corries
The hart’s-tongue sprouts where the waterfalls leap.13
The Bandruidh
Come, air of the pine-wood, what news of the forest,14
Do the seedlings stir in the needle-strewn mould ?15
The Forest Air
The seedlings stir in the needle-strewn mould.16
The Bandruidh
Come, air of the braes, what news of the braes now,17
Do the curled young bracken unsheathe their green claws ?18
The Air of the Braes
The curled young bracken unsheathe their green claws.19
The Bandruidh
Come, air of the glen, what news of the birdeens,20
Is song on the birds yet, and leaves on the lime ?21
The Air of the Glen
Green song to the birds now, green leaves to the lime !22
The Bandruidh
My robe is of green,23
My crown is of stars,24
The grass is the green25
And the daisies the stars :26
O’er lochan and streamlet27
My breath moveth sweet,28
Blue lochan so bonnie, brown burnie29
So sweet.30
The song in my heart31
Is the song of the birds,32
And the wind in my heart33
Is the lowing of herds :34
The light in my eyes,35
And the breath of my mouth,36
Are the clouds of Spring skies37
And the sound of the South.38
The Airs
Grass-green from thy mouth39
The sweet sound of the South !40