A Field

A Field

So it rose. And we,
summoned by the mists, climbed a gate
into a field
and stepped out of time.

There, Firebreath and I,
padded our way towards a splendid winter tree.

An elfin dancer dressed in a gown of moss
body and limbs taut
in perfect balance.

We stood alongside the other beings gathered in that place
and waited.
A chestnut horse joined us.

We watched as a perfect sphere, climbed before us,
light upon light,
a gateway through space.

We moved between here and there as Dian Chechtⁱ
travelled on infinity’s wings and Airmid’sⁱⁱ love lit the air.

The dawn sun sat like a low-lying buxom moon.

Circles, calling us to walk the path that materialized
before our eyes.

So it rose.
And we, set off
at the start of the circle, the end of the road
that was also the beginning.

i) Dian Cecht was the physician and healer of the Tuatha De Danann. He healed King Nuada by fitting him with an arm of silver after his arm was chopped off at the first battle of Magh Tuiredh against the Fir Bolg. He became jealous when his son Miach went on to heal and return Nuada’s arm to flesh. In order to test his son’s powers he flung a sword on the crown of his son’s head which cut the skin to the flesh. Miach healed himself. He struck him again, this time cutting the flesh to the bone, again his son healed himself. Dian Cecht hit him a third time and came to the membrane of his brain, again Miach healed himself with his own healing powers. Dian Cecht struck a fourth blow splitting his son’s brain in two, and Dian Cecht said nothing could heal him of that blow not even himself. Miach was buried by Dian Cecht and shortly after three hundred and sixty five herbs, sprung up from his grave.

ii) Airmid was Dian Cecht’s daughter. She gathered the herbs that had sprung up from her brother Miach’s grave and separated them according to their healing properties. When her father Dian Cecht found out, he shook her mantle that held the herbs and scattered them to prevent anyone else gaining full knowledge of herb lore.