Dance of the Ogham Trees

[Fitheach]

The Dance of the Ogham Trees

The wind stirs and
Trees sway and dance
and whisper in their
Midnight Revelry.
The eldritch Elder,
and the noble Druid Oak,
The laughing fairy Hawthorn and
the resilient bracing Alder.
The loving mother Birch,
and the stalwart Fir.
The gentle, healing Apple,
and the wise old Hazel.
The bewitching red Rowan,
and the mighty warrior Ash.
The mysterious Willow,
And the somber Yew,
And the thirteenth tree,
The sinister Blackthorn.

Ruis

The Eldritch Elder tree,
Grandmother of the Grove,
Her wisdom she imparts with tea,
In her flower hat and cream lace gloves.

Or perhaps you’ll take some wine,
Wisdom distilled in elderberry,
She’s the Cailleach of the Trine,
And an Elder Queen of Fairy.

In Fall she dons a coat whose hue,
Deep purple, her delight,
And gently leads the passing souls,
From darkness back to light.

Duir

The Noble Druid’s Oak,
That stands among the ancient stones.
The legendary spells evoked,
Lie silent with their buried bones.

But tree and stone together
Have conspired a new age
And born again are Druids
Who are turning a new page.

For the magic of the world
Cannot be thrown away
The mystery is again unfurled
And the Oak shall lead the way.

Huathe

The laughing fairy Hawthorn,
Where the Sidhe meet on the First of May,
And maidens gather dew in the morn,
Of this auspicious day.

White and Pink flowers adorn,
The garland of a maiden fair,
With the calling of the hunter’s horn,
Beneath the tree, she meets her Laird.

Hawthorn betokens revelry
All on a summer’s eve,
Beneath this holy thorn tree
Faerie magic begins to weave.

Fearn

The resilient bracing Alder tree
Holy wood of Blessed Bran
Who bridged the Irish Sea
Using his body as the span.

Alder bleeds red and true
In defense of ancient land
Against our foes, old and new
Alder makes his valiant stand

Alder, trees of timeless Power,
On their watch, they never sleep.
Where Raven’s guard the sacred Tower,
Their alliance with Bran they always keep.

Beith

The loving mother Birch
Whose trunk is white as snow
In a grove more sacred than a church,
Where peace and solace grow.

Beith leads the ogham dance
Where we hear first her call
She sings her soft woodland romance
In her milky moon-white shawl.

A white candle in the deep wood
The birch stands for light and purity
A beacon, this tree has stood
From the beginning of eternity.

Ailim

The stalwart young Fir,
And the brave Scot’s Pine,
Tall, straight-limbed are,
valiant trees in their prime.

Sentinel of the mountains,
Warrior of the plains,
Guardian of the glens,
Where these hardy trees reign.

When Fir and Pine stand guard
Their ramparts, none can scale.
Their wood, strong, straight and hard
Against them none prevail.

Quert

The gentle, healing Apple,
From the Isle of Avalon.
The boughs, a healing chapel,
A place the dead can rest upon.

The garden’s fair and peaceful,
And the apple blossom’s white.
The drone of bees, a gentle lull
‘Til darkness steals their sight.

Then, Morgan stirs her apple brew,
A healing draught to drink.
And life begins to stir anew,
As death’s cold eyes begin to blink.

Coll

The wise old Hazel,
In a woodland, deep and cool,
Where the sacred salmon dwell,
Eating nuts from Segais’ pool.

The hazel nuts on Halloween,
Foretells our future year.
Cast on the grate upon the e’en,
The veils do part, and we can peer.

Bringing Wisdom of the Ages,
Wood of the Diviner’s rod,
Favorite staff of Druid Sages,
Tree whom the poets laud.

Luis

The bewitching Rowan Red,
Maiden Tree of Brigid’s Day,
With her cloak of scarlet thread,
She dances with the Winter Fey.

Snow is still upon the ground,
She raises up her crimson hood,
And dances lightly all around,
Her berries bright as new shed blood.

Her realm the gentle mountain slopes,
Along the stony streams,
The sight of her can raise our hopes,
And remind us of our dreams.

Nuin

The mighty warrior Ash
Provided wood for Nuada’s spear
And arrows for the archers’s cache
Wooden weaponry to fear.

Druid wands that hold the key
To unleash power of the will,
Ash promotes creativity.
But, take care, and do no ill!

Ash, the Tree of Destiny,
Planted near the holy well,
Branches tied with clooties,
A place where fairies dwell.

Saille

The mysterious flowing Willow,
Whispers to the White Moon.
Her long green fronds gently blow.
She’s a Tree of Luna’s Triune.

She walks the night in a green veil,
Her narrow leaves caress your face.
Her wooden moon-skin milky, pale,
A tree of elegance and grace.

By the river’s edge she awaits,
And tells the tale of yore.
With silver words she creates
Dreams along the river shore.

Ioho

The somber Yew, the tree of death,
whose trunks form the gate to Annwn.
Between their roots the river flows,
And souls drift to sweet oblivion.

The winter berries shine bright red,
Admist their dark green leaves.
A beacon to the newly dead,
To put their fears at ease.

For the land to which they travel now
On the yonder side of Yew
Is the apple vale of Avalon
Where they drink of life again
from Morgan’s brew.

Straif

The sinister Blackthorn,
Of the dark Moonless Night,
A weird, eerie tree, sworn
To put evil to flight.

A tree of dense thickets,
a strong boundary wall,
And sharp thorn pickets,
That prevail against all.

She dances the Dark
and magic she’ll weave,
For she is the Monarch
Of Samhain Eve.

[Luned]

I am in awe.......this is beautiful, each section is so evocative.

[EarthWard]

Totally amazing and speaking from somebody that has tried his hand at ogham poetry before I can testify to how difficult it is and you pulled it off splendidly.

[Guest]

Very nicely done, Susa!

[Stohornugle]

Very evocative, beautifully done Susa.



In Peace Shapara

[Nimue]

This is going in my file of poetry I love enough to print and keep. Absolutley gorgeous, I love it, thankyou so much Susa, you are a masterful poet! Each one of the trees described so perfectly!

[Loosh]

Susa
I am keeping a copy of this. There is so much wisdom in it! Thank you Susa!!

[Piastra]

i could not believe i had not responded to this before now. i have read it a few times. i must have gotten side tracked. my apologies. it is wonderful, and a truly inspired piece. i am now convinced - you are dryad...

loves,
carragh

[Fitheach]

Thanks, everyone! I really appreciate the feedback. A friend of mine has asked that I work on the rest of the ogham, so I have a new project . . .