A Fairy Hunt

Who would hear the fairy horn

Calling all the hounds of Finn

Must be in a lark's nest born

When the moon is very thin.

I who have the gift can hear

Hounds and horn and tally ho,

And the tongue of Bran as clear

As Christmas bells across the snow.

And beside my secret place

Hurries by the fairy fox,

With the moonrise on his face,

Up and down the mossy rocks.

Then the music of a horn

And the flash of scarlet men,

Thick as poppies in the corn

All across the dusky glen.

Oh! the mad delight of chase!

Oh ! the shouting and the cheer !

Many an owl doth leave his place

In the dusty tree to hear.

This poem taken from "Last Songs" by Francis Ledwidge, Published by Herbert Jenkins, London 1918 [page 65-66]Poem Dated: approx 1917Words and spelling verified JSNOTEHounds of Finn / BranIn Irish mythology Sceolan and Bran are the faithful hounds of Finn mac Cumhail, a legendary leader, hunter, warrior