Walking Past Adamnans Church in Birr

Its just another ruined church to some, but St Brendans Old Church in Birr is where a little known Irish saint wrote modern Europes first rules of war, and womens rights in battle, and not to fight in

Among these ruins where Ivy grows
Gripping crevices in old stone walls
History in Europe once was written
Neath these arches from where jackdaws calls
Breaks the chilly December air
As by these ruins I now pass
Adamnans church in the town of Birr
No longer echos the sounds of mass
The sermon, the songs, the sobs of funerals
Before these stones commemorated the dead
Over which the grass grows as if they were not there
As if their funeral masses were never said.

Back then, Ireland was an Amazon race
�" Of Scythian blood, it is no wonder
Some say the Amazons were Scythian in their legendary time �"
Who in rage of battle ripped each other asunder
Women too fought like men
Recorded in legend like Queen Maeve
Few after Adamnans laws wielded the sword
Unlike Grainne Mhaol the brave
But those who did, when heads were collected
Had their breasts cut off, as trophy’s taken
Such was the savagery of the fight tose days
All honour and gentility foresaken…

Among these ruins, a lerned man
Wrote long before the league of Nations, a warriors code
Long before womens liberation, gave women rights
Who heretofor to battle rode
But now in the name of equality
From Afghanistan out to Iraq
A world has forgotten the wisdom of those times
As the warrior woman in battle is back.
Some time to come when conscription
Affects women globally as men
Will women, who do not want to go to the unavoidable fight
Remember Adamnan and his wise laws again?

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Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i found this very interesting, Tomas...but more than that. Your description put me right there, gazing at this old church, and made my imagination start carrying me back to when there was this amazing activity going on...just like in my life when i pass an old building and always start to imagine this building as it was years and years past, with all that activity it used to house.

excellent piece of writing...love the theme...women always our equals, and in many ways much stronger than we.

[J. Hampton]

as always so clear and meaningful a topic.as God chose Debora to lead armies to victory when Barak
dragged his feet...we can

[Katrina Mckeown]

A brilliantly written poem fantastic imagery throughout.

[softlyfall]

Your poem moves deftly from historical to modern, making the experience of mankind universal. I loved every single word.

[TL Boehm]

a fascinating poem with a wonderful history lesson thrown in. We don't get this, this depth of connection to the past - my family is full of mavericks and those who forget....always forward focused to their detriment. it curdles my viking blood.

[Tomás Ó Cárthaigh]

Thanks Tammy . Too many too keen to forget the past here too... All in the name of progress...

[minisla]

Wide array of thoughts sprang to mind while reading this. History lesson and the loss for gain.

[Melobldnfr]

This made me want to know and hear more regarding Adamnan.

[Tomás Ó Cárthaigh]

Google him: lots of info on him by Irene Morrow...

[Einstein Noodle]

lots of lore! will have to go a-googling to find out more ..the conscription of women is a new topic here in the USA as women are now being accepted into the ranks of the front lines ... i would not want it for my wife nor daughters ... but who can stop them? my wife tells me what to do ;)
i enjoyed your tale very much as it touches me Gaelic roots all the way back to County Donegal and the Highlands of Scotland ... :)
E.
ps. just looked up Adamnans and Birr ... fantastic bit of reading and to have managed to bring such law to such fierce tribes is no common feat ... enjoy your write even more!!

[Tomás Ó Cárthaigh]

Thanks Einstin - Ive lots more over on www.writingisnrhyme.com !!! (If the link is not live, copy it to the address bar!!!)

[Einstein Noodle]

:) ..............

[Einstein Noodle]

i tried the link but my comp says it isn't available :} maybe later eh!?