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You have arrived on the sacred shores of Ynys Mon, called Marm Cymru or "Mother of Wales" by the locals because of its abundant flora. The Ard Draoi awaits you. She leads you to her grove of silver apple trees and chooses a curved bough from which grows three perfect golden apples. Before cutting it with her gold-handled blade, she circles the tree three times sunwise and chants a string of words you barely comprehend - something about nine waves and cauldrons of poesy. She solemnly hands you the branch without another word and bids you a silent farewell.
Gladly you take her gift, for you recognise immediately that it’s an apple branch of poetic Inspiration. You once witnessed a noble poet carrying a similar silver branch and shaking it over his head to sharpen his wit and tongue. You climb on Sabhdh's back and the fawn makes haste back to where the ship is bobbing precariously in the treacherous waters of the loch.
The Ceannmhor Ghorm hails you. Rising to his full stature, he looks you straight in the eye and formally states his challenge - in poetic riddles! You become mesmerised by his odd features. He has small eyes, a flat nose and a large mouth. His arms are overly long and he has a fish tail where you'd expect to see legs. Clarissant tugs your tunic and advises you toconcentrate.
"Don't let the Ceannmhor Ghorm trick you! Stop looking in his eyes and shake the branch over your head for inspiration to complete the verse."
"Hunnnh? What verse?" you ask in exasperation.
"The one he just recited by a famous Welsh poet about a famous forest battle. You're supposed to complete the unfinished lines. Listen closely while I repeat
what he said:"
I was in many shapes ______ _ ___ ________:
I was a slender, enchanted _____ - _ _______ ____ __ ___ ____,
I was a rain drop in air, _ ___ _ ____ ____,
I was a word of letters, _ ___ _ ____ __ ______,
I was lanterns of light for a ____-___-____;
I was a bridge that stretched over _____ _________,
I was a path, I was an eagle, I was _ _______ __ ___ ____...
"He says if you don't recognise this poem, you can compose one of your own."
You nod and start shaking the branch over your head. You feel foolish but you saw it work for the poet.
Your challenge is to tell a story in which you meet the Chieftain of the Blue Men's poetry challenge by using the Silver Branch of Poetic Inspiration to either name the famous Welsh poet and his poem and complete the lines of the above verse, or to compose a poem of your own. If you know or guess which poem this is, you may use any translation at your disposal. Only when you have met the challenge will the Blue Men grant you and those whose fate you hold in your hands safe passage to Eilean Arainn.
Post the tale of your poetic inspiraton at Emhain Abhlach.
Don’t forget to email the URL of the Hood page where you found the plaque to
echtrai@gmail.com as well!
Have fun and best of luck!
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Posted May 1, 2006 - 19:41 , Last Edited: May 1, 2006 - 21:28
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