The House that Fish Built: Very-White…

*

…Said Very-White, “it is but a drop before a shower:

 I see another chariot coming over the plain.”

“Describe it,” said Sweet-Mouthed Maeve.

Said Very-White, “I see the

horses pulling the chariot:

two fiery, spirited bays of

great strength and power;

wide of hoof, with

sweat spittled chests

and curbed jaws;

high mettled their

broad foreheads

their manes curled;

swift and smooth,

they run a tumultuous course

of wild and dashing pace.

*

A chariot of fine wood,

its wicker-work new and freshly spruced,

having two wheels of bronze;

its pole bright with gold mountings.

*

In the chariot a man

much freckled,

his hair long and curly:

his tresses triple-hued;

brown at root

red in mass with

tips corn yellow.

*

About his body

        a crimson tunic

striped gold.

*

A shield alongside

yellow bossed

edged in bronze.

*

From his wrist shoots

a shining broad sword.

*

A grandly moving billow

waves from his chariot frame…

*

…“I recognise that man,” said Maeve, “a wolf among cattle,

in battle after battle, head

upon head he heaps;

through furious foe, he

leaps like a flame, his

name the call to rout;

eager for fray, the sword

of Long-Horn O’Leary

…is a raven to prey.”

*