Selections from Ancient Irish Poetry

Here is a voice two thousand years old, still speaking across the centuries. These selections from ancient Irish poetry transport readers to a world where gods walk among mortals, where the sea holds secrets, and where grief and wonder exist in the same breath. The collection draws from the rich tradition of early Celtic verse, presenting mythological narratives of enchanted isles and divine encounters alongside intimate laments on love, loss, and the passage of time. What distinguishes this tradition from other European literatures is its remarkable persistence: Ireland preserved its vernacular poetry through invasions, conversions, and cultural upheaval, passing down verses in the native tongue when much of Europe's early literature perished in Latin or Greek. The translator's ear captures the music of Old Irish, the alliteration and assonance that made these poems memorable before writing was common. This is not a museum piece but a living tradition, verses that were sung at feasts, recited by poets, and whispered over graves. For readers seeking the roots of English-language poetry, or simply those drawn to myth and the numinous, these selections offer a window into a civilization that saw magic in every tide pool and heard gods speaking in the wind.