December
Introduction to 'December' (Ærra Geola)
This poem describes
some of the preparations for Yule (Geola) during Saxon times. Much of the
material comes from 'The Good Reeve', a kind of farming handbook of late Saxon
era.
December (Ærra Geola)
The Anglo-Saxon,
month before Yule,
Twilight darkness,
long night to rule.
The sacred time,
darkest of year
Shadows shiver, have
thee no fear.
In muddy mire, up
with thine hood,
Fallen timber,
working wild wood.
Form ash faggots, for
Yuletide fire,
Half height pit hut,
heave them higher.
Long winter nights,
still working hard,
Corn drying kilns,
warm in the yard.
Bitter coldness,
becometh cruel,
Time to gather,
winter's last fuel.
Yule corn to thresh,
and husk winnow,
Protect thine foul,
from wolves and snow.
Keep animals safe,
be on thine guard,
Long winter nights,
time for the bard.
Twelve days of Yule,
she draweth near,
In old pit hut, we
brew best beer.
Yuletide feasting,
to celebrate,
Even the sun, he
gets up late.
Copyright Andrew Rea
November 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment