Brón Trogain

a Lughnassadh Poem from The Sliver Branch and the Otherworld

The Corn surrenders to the Crow
giving its ghost to become
the wings and feathers
that will carry the seed
to new soil,

The Apple lets go the burden of its fruit,
which ferments in the fading sunlight,
that the roots might drink it in
as the season of slumber approaches,

Fallen leaves feed the mycelium
brought to life by the lightning
the Oak called down in summer,

the King accepts the Cailleach’s kiss
and approaches the threshold
of the stone chamber

where all winter he will shift shape
from Salmon to Bear to forest to man
and emerge again in spring.

from The Silver Branch and the Otherworld