Cader Idris

Cader Idris 

For Cader Idris looms and lowers 

but sometimes glows bright gold,  

crags as backdrops moody, changing 

where shadow clouds in silence slide

all the greens now turned to grey, and in the hollow, 

giant hollow

water’s pooled deep down and dark 

green as green, like bottle glass. 

And should you sleep upon this mountain 

somehow not overwhelmed in land sublime 

where Idris stalks with giant strides, 

then in the morning, legend has it

in bardic songs the ancients sang 

(like Shakespeare’s lovers after sleep 

some magic potion doubtless drunk) 

then one of two you’ll soon discover 

henceforth a poet or a madman 

this is how your life will be.

This is the song the landscape’s singing 

song of the mountains, valleys, longing. 

Poet or madman, throw of the dice 

see how they fell.

Caught in the mystery, awesome, wonder 

Cader Idris casting its numinous spell. 

March 13th 2021 Hounoux