Aisling Poems
Our theme this month is Ash, Cloud & Fog, and so it seemed apt to consider the aisling poem.
Aisling is pronounced “ashling,” which is Irish for a vision or dream poem. Originating from the Old French reverdie as a celebration of spring’s arrival, with the poem featuring a beautiful woman, the Irish aisling is more true to life: the woman image may be old or young, worn out or freshly lovely. And she likes to lament. Over time, Irish poets also began connecting the aisling with their political context. More loosely, such a vision or dream poem can echo the ache for freedom.
Sample: Over the Hills and Far Away
“Over the Hills and Far Away” is an example of an aisling poem that’s more loosely about the ache for freedom.
Another Sample: Mo Ghile Mear
Video description from YouTube: “Sung by 12-year-old Sarah Copus, this song appears on the album ‘Celtic Fairy Lullaby’ available at the official website for the band. ‘Mo Ghile Mear’ (My Gallant Darling) is an Irish song, written in the Irish language by Seán Clárach Mac Domhnaill in the 18th century. Composed in the convention of Aisling poetry, it is a lament by the Gaelic goddess Éire for Bonnie Prince Charlie, who was then in exile. The song differs from more conventional Aisling poems. Whereas Aisling poetry normally has the poet asleep or otherwise minding his own business when he experiences a dream or vision of a fair maid, in this poem the poet personifies Éire/Ireland, the country itself, as a woman who once was a fair maiden but is now a widow. Her husband, the ‘Gallant Boy,’ is not dead but far away. As a consequence the land is failing and nature itself is in decline.”
Another Sample: Pé in Eirinn í
Says the Celtic singer La Yeni: “This song originates from an Aisling (a vision or dream) poem written by Tipperary poet Liam Dall Ó hIfearnáin (William Dall Heffernan) (1720–1803). It is about a man who is infatuated by the vision of a woman of great beauty but is tormented each day by thinking of her. His life is sad and without purpose until the day she appears before him.”
Try It: Aisling Poetry Prompt
Compose a poem that is a vision or dream. The poem can be from anyone’s perspective, but try to include an image of a woman who represents a kind of freedom—either lost or hoped for. If you like, pen your poem as a lament. Or perhaps try the ballad form. Also include an image of either ash, cloud, or fog, to give a nod to our October theme. 🙂
Photo by Morbite, Creative Commons, via Unsplash.
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Brendan says
Mother’s valley
It is the daily climb of this mountain that leads to the valley
that houses the many dreams of generations
those that tilled and toiled
to make a life in and on this sacred place of maternal energy
She rarely cries out but gently adjusts and re-forms
A tranquil and caressing mist hovers over in this time of year
A time that the day shortens
when the artists come alive with joy
of those falling leaves
In her undulating shapes that robe those hills
the cool of the moment from the heat of a past
an airy blanket that hovers over her scene
a pillow of majestic earth expressing
caressing a moment
that draws the mind to slow
and the place to slow and the thoughts to slow
to slow enough to allow the moment
before you float through this space to your next need
you are happily taken in by a mother that has remained unspoiled in beauty
unharmed here by the wrath of the builders and the clutching of the vacant owners
the beauty is still there by its creeks and rivers
and the strength of trees and the length of the hills
and the warmth of the soil
this cloud of moisture gently caresses the things that are real
covers the things that we don’t know
L.L. Barkat says
This is beautiful, Brendan. I’d be curious to know a little more about your inspiration for the poem. 🙂
(And I love the catalog technique used towards the end of the poem. It increases the lull, the magic, of the words and the place.)
Brendan R Walsh says
I greatly appreciate the kind words
I have the pleasure of driving into the Hudson valley and am often taken by
the scenes that unfold … this time was a beautiful fog that nestled in the valley. My office looks out on the hudson valley hills and I am very connected to our care of mother earth and taking the time to appreciate it in all forms
L.L. Barkat says
What a rich inspiration! (And I love the Hudson valley, too. So beautiful.)