A lot of people tend to forget that Fionn mac Cumhaill also held a reputation as a talented poet (which has a whole bunch of relevant associations) and the Fenian narratives are strongly linked with what’s generally referred to as ‘nature poetry’.
A number of ‘nature poems’ are actually attributed to Fionn (and I’ve a bridge to sell you if you believe that). This one is a 9th century poem (in Irish and English) which was translated by the German philology scholar, Kuno Meyer, back in the early 1900s.
Note, this was written in 9th century Irish, so it’s quite different to modern Irish. I have to say, though, Meyer did a superb job of the translation.
Scél lem duíb
Dordaid dam
Snigid gaim
Ro-faíth sam
Gàeth ard uar
ísel grian
gair a rith
ruirthech rían
—————
Here’s a song
stags give tongue
winter snows
summer goes
high cold blow
sun is low
brief his day
seas give spray.
