The Appeal

While this is officially my 30th and qualifying poem of NaPoWriMo, it is far from the last in this ongoing epic of Irish mythology. If you’ve enjoyed my narrative so far, please stay tuned for the continuation of this project! I wager we’re only about halfway through… so with that, sonnet #21:

21. The Appeal

Enlivened were the King and Queen to see
the face of fae among their roaming kin,
for days of grief outweighed their days of glee
since Angus and his song of love grew thin.
If faery feasts were liberal in their spread,
this mortal banquet proved more lavish still:
a week had passed in wine and meat and bread
before the delegation spoke their will:
the Dagda told the rulers of their plight,
of how his son’s distress had been evinced
by want of Caer, the goddess in the night,
the daughter of a Connacht faery prince.

He asked them, by their grace and ruling hand,
to bend the Father-Prince to their command.

The Question of Mortals

Poem 29 — second-to-last of the month! — via sonnet 20 of the Irish mythological epic. While I’m not totally satisfied with this one (regarding both structure and placement in the tale), I am excited to have written 280 lines in this epic poem — with many more to come! There will always be time to edit later.

20. The Question of Mortals

With haste, the Dagda and the Scarlet King
assembled guards and servants of their clans
to march with them through wood and faery ring
to seek their equals in the realm of Man.
Though weighty was the power of their kind,
and binding was the impact of their oaths,
the mortals of the era had refined
some artistry and magic of their own:
when men and gods competed for their fates,
such wise defense was often paramount,
but allies with such might and magic great
could join the fae and strengthen their account.

To Connacht, then, the small assembly rode
to seek the mortal hosts at their abode.

The Royal Counsel

27th poem for April, 19th in the Irish epic:

19. The Royal Counsel

At Munster’s keep, the Scarlet King convened
a meeting of the Dagda and their train
to help decide the method and the means
of winning Caer to Angus’s campaign.
He spoke at length of Connacht, where he knew
the father of the maiden claimed his land:
King Ethal and his faerie retinue
could grant the Lord his daughter’s artful hand.
But mortal country lay between their reach,
administered by monarchs of its own,
and so the court of fae must then beseech
the worldly King and Queen before their throne.

And so the faerie’s plans were thusly laid
to seek the mortal rulers and their aid.

The Rising Doubt

25th poem of the month, #18 of the sonnet-epic:

18. The Rising Doubt

As Caer and her companions sang their tune,
the Scarlet King and Angus stayed discreet;
the Lord of Love again began to swoon
and wondered were it wise that they still meet:
“Her power goes beyond her dreaming spells,
and far beyond the talent of my art.
And even as my aching for her swells,
I’ve not the strength to carry off her heart.”
“My boy,” the Scarlet King replied in turn,
“A chance this ripe is seldom so at hand!
And yet, there is some truth in your concern…
So let us ride, and craft another plan.”

With hope, the king returned them through the night,
but Angus felt the waning of his might.

The Lake of the Dragon’s Mouth

Went from a couple days ahead to a day behind schedule, but here’s NaPo poem #24, sonnet 17 of the ongoing mythical saga:

17. The Lake of the Dragon’s Mouth

Beyond the Munster borders by a day
and into dusk, beneath the setting sun,
the company arrived by winding way
before the shining lake where dreams were spun:
the Dragon’s Mouth seemed wreathed in golden fire
as rays of sunlight danced upon the pool
to stir imagination — and desire
of guarded treasure, whether flesh or jewel.
As darkness came, a humming soon was heard:
the voice of many maidens on the sands
flew proud across the lake, like singing birds
to rival any call of beast or man.

Above them all, a voice as pure and clear
as moonlight bore the melody of Caer.

Disclaimer: I have no idea how far it is from Munster to Connacht, nor whether the borders of those ancient provinces (nations? principalities?) reflect the modern counties — NOR do I have a healthy grasp of the methods of travel available, so my assumption that the journey takes about a day could be phenomenally inaccurate. But hey, it’s a myth, right? There’s margin for error in the supernatural.

The Welcoming

NaPo poem 23, saga sonnet 16 (say that five times fast):

16. The Welcoming

Some days it took to rally and prepare
a caravan with Munster as their end;
while several more it took to bring them there,
the troupe, at length, was well-received as friends.
For far too long had Angus pined and moped,
his appetite so markedly decreased,
but finally, this glimpse of happy hope
had stoked his hunger for a proper feast.
For three abundant days they ate their fill
and slept, with ease, for three relaxing nights
before the Lord of Love regained his will
to seek the one on whom he’d set his sights.

The Scarlet King then led him to the shore
where Caer and all her court were seen before.

The Invitation

Poem number 22 for the month, sonnet 15 of the tale of Caer and Angus:

15. The Invitation

Such joy had overcome the Dagda’s hold
upon the glad delivery of this word,
a toast was made for all that they were told,
but more, they shortly learned, was to be heard.
The envoy of the faithful Scarlet King
explained a warm proposal from his lord:
to ease his neighbors’ grief and suffering,
an ample feast would honor their accord.
The Lord of Love and all his retinue
would dine with them, then rally at the Lake
to see the lovely maiden and pursue
the object of his passion and his ache.

With eagerness, the Father-King agreed
and blessed the messenger with grace and speed.

The Final Search

NaPo poem #21, sonnet 14 of the Irish mythical saga:

14. The Final Search

The Scarlet King had sent his truest aid
in haste upon his bravest, swiftest horse
to tell of the discoveries he had made
in tracking down the maiden’s cryptic course:
For months, his scouts and riders swept the land:
they traveled east to west, and north to south,
and finally, beneath his wise command,
they found the lake they call the Dragon’s Mouth.
Thrice fifty youthful maidens there consort
upon its placid waters, cool and clear;
they answer to the mistress of their court,
the mystic maiden goddess known as Caer.

Her beauty and enchantment, so esteemed,
uphold the tale of Angus and his dream.

The Loveless Land

Sonnet 13, poem 20:

13. The Loveless Land

Another year without the Lord of Love
to share his charm and sing his vital songs
to sidhe below, and mortal kin above
proved taxing as his solitude prolonged:
too few among the youth pursued their play,
and even lovers old forgot their tunes
as passions drifted aimlessly away
with little sign their longings would resume.
A sorrow fell upon the graying land
and tensions rose among both foe and friend;
while some lost faith to trust their neighbor’s hand,
the Scarlet King had vowed to make amends.

No sooner had their hope become diffuse
than royal envoys came with stirring news.

The Scarlet King

Sonnet 12, poem 19:

12. The Scarlet King

Among the news returned unto the court,
a promising solution was secured:
the Scarlet King of Munster pledged support,
since long had their alliances endured.
The Dagda and his court were greatly pleased
to count upon the Scarlet King’s rapport,
for knowledge was among his expertise
and famed, he was, for mystery and lore.
But still, the royal neighbor had his terms
and asked of his compatriots a year
to find the mystic maiden and confirm
she merited young Angus and his tears.

The Dagda gave his blessing to the king
and waited til the summer turned to spring.