The Celts....the Scots-Gaelic speakers, Bretons, Irish, Manx, Welsh and Cornish,
all marked with very individual histories.
Symbolic imagery and inspiring thoughts. It has been said that the
half-said thing was dearest to the Celts. This is best expressed
in the mixture of nature poetry and proverbial wisdom.

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Paramours' love, like the flowing tide
Wanderers' love, like the wind off a sea rock
Married men's love, like a ship sailing into harbour

Gaelic saying

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Three things which inspire the poet:
An eye to see the world clearly
A heart which feels sincerely
And courage to render faithfully.

Bardic Triad

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Like a blind man's progress through a hedge
Or walking on rough rocky slopes
Like the baying of a hound in an empty glen
Is learning to the ignorant

Gaelic saying

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Your little book is not lost,
It is in the sea eighteen fathoms deep,
In the mouth of a fish who is guarding it
Only three pages are ruined
One with water, one with blood
And one with the tears of my eyes.

Breton ballad

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What is the best thing
man can have?
A life that's even
just and brave.

Welsh proverb

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Don't see what you see
Don't hear what you hear
Don't tell what you know
of Cough a na Looba.

Irish rhyme against the Fairies

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The corn is in the haggard and
all made right
You will not know which reaper
was first or last.

Manx proverb

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The loch is no heavier for carrying the wild duck
The horse is no heavier for the bridle
The sheep is no heavier for its wool
And the body is no heavier for its intelligence.

Gaelic saying

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Idleness is the sword's praise
And rust its honour

Welsh Englyn

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What creature did first make Alpha?
Which is the fairest form of praise which the Lord made?
What food what beverage?
From what came his clothing
Who faced denial?
The might of a country's deceit
Why is stone hard?
Why is thorn sharp-pointed?
Who is hard as stone and salty as salt?
Why is the nose like a ridge?
Why is the wheel round?
Why does the tongue declare more
Than any organ?

Hanes Taliesin - 16th century

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A green hill far from me,
Bare bare when I reach it

Manx proverb

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Old is man when he is born
and young, young ever after

Book of Taliesin

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