The Hound (for Connor's challenge)

Where have ye gone, Setanta?  This fine old woman weeps for her son, Ye stood proud and alone, O wild hound, In the age before Éire was one. How left ye home, Setanta? Longing from birth to wage war, Left Louth for great Eamhain Macha, seeking mac Neasa's youth corps. Greatest in sport, Setanta, envious boys sought your end, you laughingly laid na macra low, made of mac Neasa a friend. How earned ye your name, Setanta? making your way to the feast, your hurley-ball choked the smith's hound, and ye took the place of that beast Now ye are known as Cú Chulainn, the hound of Culann and more, indeed the Hound of Ulster ye are, laying waste to her foes in her wars. How came ye to love, Cú Chulainn? Ulster's loveliest, Emer, your bride, ye answered each of her riddles obscure and lay her sweet breast by your side. How came ye to legend, Cú Chulainn? alone in all Ulster awake, the witch-queen's spell took all save you to allow her the Great Bull to take. What did ye then, Cú Chulainn, Alone against all Connacht's might? Gae Bolga in hand, ye made your long stand standing, alone, through the night And who did ye slay, Cú Chulainn? Each champion Maeve bade ye face, ye lay them all low, the great and the small, the frenzy contorting your face. How could she pain ye, Cú Chulainn? She saved the worst foe for the end, the bean-sídhe summoned sweet Ferdia foster-brother, soul-friend. Oh what horror, Cú Chulainn, as ye let the Gae Bolga fly, knowing ye'd no other option but to pierce sweet Ferdia's eye. Ye won many battles, Cú Chulainn a champion greater than all, Son of long-handed Lugh, all-strong, all Éire could not make ye fall. How then did ye die, Cú Chulainn? Strongest and bravest of men, betrayed and abandoned, weakened and tired pecked by black Morrigan. Alas, when they saw ye, Cú Chulainn, raven supping blood from your eye, the cowards who would never face ye struck all at once...and ye died. Still Éire needs ye, Cú Chulainn the land cries yet to be one, still cruel fate keeps her divided arise, and unite her under one sun.NOT my usual style...I have no idea what I was thinking trying to write something like this. Anyhoo...here it is. Enjoy...? Written March 27th, 2002 © on Mar 27 2002 03:52 AM PST   10 • 0