St. Brigid's Day
Author: Martin Power

St. Brigid's Day
Author: Martin Power

You've spread your cloak upon the earth
And brought about rebirth.
Now from beneath the frosted soil
The snowdrop peeps its head,
The linnet and the lark announce
Your arrival with their song
And tell us all that winter's over:
Here comes the springtime sun.

And snug within its winter nest
The hedgehog starts to stir;
It feels the heat of that springtime sun
Warming up the earth.
The woodland and the hedgerow
The daffodils now dress
As Nature fills the poet's pen
With endless word and verse.

The robin who has sung alone
Throughout the winter months
Is perched upon the garden wall
And sings a different song.
The others know of what he sings
For they too are so inclined
To seek a kindred heart as theirs
With whom to share their time.

You've brought with you a promise
And a hope of better times,
It's there amongst the budding trees
And in the poet's lines,
It's with the farmers in their fields
And without across our land
Upon the springtime breeze.

The poem carries on the ancient Celtic festival of imbolg, marking the rebirth of the year. Before the Church imposed the feast of St. Brigid the imbolg festival marked the rebirth of nature, under the mantle of the goddess Brigid, of Danú.