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By Fledermaus
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19 April 2008 |
A poem about a poem. Líadan was an poetess from 9th century Ireland, who was in love with a certain Cuirithir. Yet she became a nun and had taken her oath when Cuirithir arrived to ask for her hand. Thereupon he became a monk and set out to the ocean, never to return again. Líadan composed a poem about her feelings. Of course mine could not even come close to the greatness of hers...
The last stanza is slightly based on the original:
Me Líadan, rocarussa Cuirithir Is fítir adfíatar
(I am Liadan, I have loved Cuirithir, it's as true as they say). Oh Líadan, Corca Duibhne's poetess How you longed for that poor man. Such regret, About the pain that was caused In words your feelings were set Married Christ But your heart belonged elsewhere You were another man's tryst. Cuirithir He held you tightly and sweet The woman he held so dear. Your great pain Set down in ink forever The true love you did not gain Oh Líadan You indeed loved Cuirithir It's as true as it's written. |
Written by Brett (1009 comments posted) 19th April 2008 | Beautiful. You have excelled yourself, Fledermaus.
Amid all of the regret there is still a passion.
'Set down in ink forever'
'It's as true as it's written'
A wonderful achievement.
Cheers |
Written by Fledermaus (3506 comments posted) 19th April 2008 | Thank you Brett.
Somehow while translating the poem which Liadan is supposed to have composed, that feeling of both regret and passion came across very strongly, and if I succeeded in capturing a little of that, I'm very glad :-) | Liadan
Written by Josie (2854 comments posted) 19th April 2008 | Well done Fledermaus. A truly lovely poem about love. I went to this poem to read it right through. It is heartbreaking for she also says:
Iam Liadan;
I loved Cuirithir;
this is as true as anything told.
I'm sorry to offend any Roman Catholics who read this, but I really cannot believe that a loving God would want people , when they have found true love on this earth, to delibeately shut themselves off from the one they love and the children they might have, because if you cannot accept human love, how can you accept God's love? I'm afraid I feel the same about Roman Catholic priests. The ministers of the other churches have their wives and families, and they do their work well also. It all seems ridiculous to me and quite against the natural instincts God gave us.
Again, very well done Fledermaus. |
Written by Fledermaus (3506 comments posted) 20th April 2008 | Thanks Josie,
It's a touching (and very short) story indeed.
I have heard the reasoning behind celibacy once from a theology student who wanted to become a protestant minister (a woman, and happily married). She said that it had to do with purity, as apparently Jewish priests too are not allowed to have intercourse on the day they have a mass. Yet as Catholic priests have a mass every day, they may never have intercourse.
I think somehow though the argument Buddhists use may perhaps also play a role amongst Christians, namely that to achieve enlightenment, one should disconnect from earthly things (I still wonder about the poor wife abandoned by the first Buddha. Did he ever come back to explain why he left her?). In Christian terms this would mean that earthly love probably distracts from getting closer to God.
For someone like Liadan this doesn't work however, as it only caused conflict for she seems to have loved and longed for the man long after she had taken her vows...
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Written by Phil (7014 comments posted) 20th April 2008 | Liked this, Fledermaus. The two lines Brett chose also stood out for me.
On Josie's point. I find the rituals of all religions odd. I don't think this one any more odd than any other I can think of.
Phil |
Written by mia_ms_kim (1057 comments posted) 20th April 2008 | "Married Christ / But your heart belonged elsewhere / You were another man's tryst."
This stanza for me seems to show the "sweet torment" of unrequited love / forbidden love. Wanting someone who belongs to another human being is one thing, but someone who belongs to God! - that's quite something else. Savoury material for romance writers.
I assume Liadan did not know Cuirithir returned her love until it was too late? (If she knew and she still chose to be a nun, then I would not think her heart belonged to Cuirithir.) I suppose in the olden days, one could not released from the vow. Today you can be released, and still remain Catholic. Or if a married clergyman of protestant church wants to become a Catholic priest, then a special allowance can be made for him to stay married and become a priest, as far as I know. But I don't know about a married nun - I haven't heard of any.
Anyway, achingly romantic, Fledermaus.
Mia  |
Written by Fledermaus (3506 comments posted) 20th April 2008 | Thanks Phil and Mia.
Phil - Probably so. But it's often interesting to consider what's behind such rituals, especially if so many people practice them.
Mia - I don't know really about how definitive things were in that age. Especially in Ireland it seems the situation was a bit strange, as apparently bishops weren't very strict in the rules , yet monks (st. Kevin?) seemed to be unnaturally afraid of women.
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