OH foul Clutch Cargo:
thatll learn me to pursue Yeats
in any context aside from reading his words
1323, Monday,
11 12. 17
Cuchulain
Comforted
A MAN that had six mortal wounds, a man
Violent and famous, strode among the dead;
Eyes stared out of the branches and were gone.
Then certain Shrouds that muttered head to head
Came
and were gone. He leant upon a tree
As though to meditate on wounds and blood.
A Shroud that seemed to have authority
Among
those bird-like things came, and let fall
A bundle of linen. Shrouds by two and three
Came creeping up because the man was still.
And
thereupon that linen-carrier said:
“Your life can grow much sweeter if you will
Obey our ancient rule and make a shroud;
Mainly
because of what we only know
The rattle of those arms makes us afraid.
“We thread the needles’ eyes, and all
we do
All
must together do." That done, the man
Took up the nearest and began to sew.
“Now must we sing and sing the best we
can,
But
first you must be told our character:
Convicted cowards all, by kindred slain
Or driven from home and left to die in fear.”
They sang, but had nor human tunes nor
words,
Though all was done in common as before;
They had changed their throats and had the throats of birds.
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