For Caer

Caer! Caer!

So the god of love Aohongus called,
His voice the sound of waterfalls,
His love as sweet as fading dawn,
Morning light upon the lake of swans.

Caer! Caer!

One among them, royal daughter,
Swam in a swan's form on the water;
She lifted her neck, turned her head,
Glided where his feet were spread.

Caer! Caer!

So he sang, though hoarse his voice,
Out upon a lake like diamond and turquoise:
Turquoise with the whispering water's words,
Diamond with the floating water-birds.

Caer! Caer!


And she heard him, heard the love,
That flew through his voice like a dove
Through a temple of the Goddess High
When full moon and love both are nigh.

Caer! Caer!

He saw her come to him, saw her move
Upon bank as upon the water smooth-
Saw her smile, and extend a wing
That became the hand of his loveling.

Caer! Caer!

She heard his voice, saw him reach;
He became a swan there upon the beach,
Became a swan for love of her,
And made the air with his wings stir.

Caer! Caer!

They flew away together, there at last,
And though it be long years in the past,
In the voices of swans still you may hear
The memory of their love undying clear:

Caer! Caer!