Page:The Complete Poems of Francis Ledwidge, 1919.djvu/128

122 His hair was red with blood, and he was wound

In wicker full of grass, and a cold stone

Was on his head.

"Cuculain, is it so?"

Sualtem said, and then, "My hair is snow,

My strength leaks thro' my wounds, but I will die

Avenging you."

And then Cuculain said:

"Not so, old father, but take horse and ride

To Emain Macha, and tell Connor this."

Sualtem from his red lips took a kiss,

And turned the stone upon Cuculain's head.

The Lia-Macha with a heavy sigh

Ran up and halted by his wounded side.