THE TWILIGHT OF ENCHANTMENT

 

BY PADDY GILLARD-BENTLEY
©1989
PUBLISHED BY:  The Educational Media Group

 

 

Anmatis Grey

 

 

 

Illustration by Paddy Gillard-Bentley

When huge green dragons flew the air, spitting fire everywhere
The world lay in perpetual twilight, no afternoon or pitch-black sky night
And everything seemed gray and bleak; the Druids people came to seek
Had gifts of power from the Earth, controlling life and death and birth
For all events relied on magic, the results of this were often tragic
For Druids were not always good, behaving as you thought they should
And many a selfish deed was done, before there was the moon and sun
Bards gave told with harp and song, when a Druid’s power had gone wrong

 

Anmatis Sego, this Druid’s name, the magic of light was his claim to fame
He banished forever the twilight gray, and created a spell for night and day
Although there was no sun and moon, he gave more light in the afternoon
And gave none at all to the midnight sky, so dark the dragons could not fly
The people of the land rejoiced, and called to him in one great voice
“Anmatis you’re our hero now, please Anmatis tell us how
We can reward you what you’ve done, golden pieces, any sum
What you desire is yours just ask, nothing too dear for such a task."

 

Anmatis Sego thought it fine, that people gave him food and wine
Gold and silver, precious jewels, secretly he thought them fools
"A magic spell, a bit of light.  Release the spell, the darkest night.”
It didn’t seem so great to he, ‘twas from his birth his destiny
Yet High Druid Maglos mentioned,  “This power is meant for good intention
You should in return give of yourself, with no thought of gain or wealth.”
But words got lost within his greed, for treasures and promises for his deed
And he agreed to take the hand, of the fairest maiden in the land

 

“Oh how I wish to take the hand, of the fairest maiden in the land."
He held them to that promise made, as if he had not yet been paid
He called forth every Duke and King, requesting in ten days they bring
Unmarried daughters, fair of face, to gather in the market place
And from these girls he would decide, which lady should become his bride
So to their Kingdoms these men went, faces sad and shoulders bent
They knew Anmatis was no fool, and yet he seemed a slight bit cruel
“It is not right," grumbled a few,  "If Maglos only knew.”

 

Near Atha Cliath upon Tamair, stood a glorious castle where
Lord Fintan lived atop that hill, which incidentally is there still
A kind and generous man was he, loving every man and tree
And horse, dog, pig, everything, he especially liked the birds to sing
But closest to his heart was she, his daughter, Leuca you should see
Her hair of gold and shining eyes, a gentle beauty, kind and wise
His wife had died when she was born, and he had raised her from that morn
And now Fintan could not believe, she’d marry soon, and take her leave

 

Leuca loved to be out doors, she’d sing and dance upon the moors
Collecting heather where it grew, and all the birds, it seemed they knew
She love the earth and everything, and so for her they’d often sing
“Leuca with your golden hair, spreading gladness everywhere
Come and let us be near you, that we may give you gladness too.”
And then they’d sit, right in her hand, and tell her of a special man
Who lived in yonder forest there, bright blue eyes and jet-black hair.
And on this day they said they’d bring, this man Isa, they called King

 

Her cloak upon the ground she spread, to feast on cheese and honey bread
And waited for the birds to bring, this man Isa, they called King
After not much time had gone, they heard him sing a merry song
Then coming close he bowed down low, Leuca blushed from head to toe
And found she had not much to say, his gaze it took her breath away
Then tenderly he spoke her name, and said,  “The reason why I came,
Each day I watch you from the wood, and know you’re gentle, kind and good.
I’ve loved you always from the start, and wish to hold you in my heart."

 

So many days passed on Tamair, many looked to see them there
Singing with the birds their friends, dancing till the daylight’s end
For theirs was a love so strong and deep, the kind of love that time will keep
Always youthful, kind and true, that will exist when time is through
And all thought nothing could touch the joy, of the lovely girl and handsome boy
Until that fateful day arrived, when Fintan called them to his side
And sadly told Leuca how,   “We travel to the city now
For Anmatis Sego shall take the hand, of the fairest maiden in the land."

 

Isa held her while she cried,  “But I wish you to be my bride!
There is something we can do, that the Druid won’t choose you.
We’ll make you sloppy and unkempt, that your beauty will not tempt.”
Then Fintan’s face lit up with glee.  “It will work my Love, you’ll see.”
He set at once to change her dress, and found one in an awful mess
They smeared dirt on her lovely face, which seemed a pitiful disgrace
With tattered shawl about her head, Anmatis would not wish to wed
Or so they hoped as they left their home, leaving Isa there alone

 

They came to the great city there, pretty maidens everywhere
Kings and Dukes, some looking sad, and some who thought this was not bad
Peddlers shouted,  “Buy my ware!”  While mothers brushed their daughter’s hair
And cries of,  “Ribbons, pins and pearls, to decorate your lovely girls.”
Many carts where piled high, with things to eat,  “Come and buy!”
Fintan complained,  “This wretched thing!  A festival where good men bring
Their girls for him to scrutinize.  A Druid should be pure and wise
Yet I am grateful of your state, lest Anmatis change your fate.”

 

Trumpets sounded four short blasts and many cried,  “It’s time at last!”
The maidens lined up row on row.  How many, Leuca did not know
Three more blasts, then out he came.  “Anmatis Sego is my name.
The loveliest Maiden shall be my bride, a lucky girl,” he said with pride
With white hair flowing, staff in hand, he sought the fairest in the land
Leuca_s heart it filled with fear, the Druid was now drawing near
When they stood there face to face, she could not meet his evil gaze
But he just turned and walked away, Leuca sighed,  “We’ve won the day!”

 

A fanfare of trumpets pierced the air, anticipation everywhere
Anmatis said with a great loud voice.  “I at last have made my choice.
Of all fair Maidens in the land, Lord Fintan’s girl shall take my hand.
Although I think you are unwise, to try fool me with that disguise.
Your tattered clothes, they tricked me not, with all this magic power I’ve got.
Anmatis Sego, Druid of Light, I created day and night.
Leuca, that means much the same, shining white defines your name.
So come to me and be my wife, and live with me a happy life."

 

Leuca stood there horrified, fell to her knees and sobbed and cried
“Deae Matres please make me strong, to put right this dreadful wrong!”
Then anger filled her heart and head, as to the Druid she turned and said
“Anmatis, I’ll not marry you!  To only one man I am true.
You are such a wicked thing.  Only Isa shall be my King.”
Anmatis held his staff up high  “This promise made you dare defy?
You shall be sorry you were born.  Just wait until tomorrow morn
Isa and yourself shall pay!”  He turned his back and stormed away

 

Anmatis went to Nemeton with amulet and willow wand
A sacred grove where strength and power, gained in force at midnight hour
And that is where Anmatis sought, the strength of magic he had not
And what a sight he must have been, that is if anyone had seen
The fury of his jealous wrath, holding high his hand with staff
He swore then to the Gods above, his power would destroy their love
He called upon the great Oak trees, the Air, the Earth, the seven seas
Fire burst forth from his staff as the grove echoed his evil laugh

 

Throughout the night he worked his spell, his words resounding in the dell
And when the light of dawn emerged, that Druid’s soul remained unpurged
And now his time had come at last, this was the evil spell he cast
“Isa of Leuca’s heart, you two shall always be apart.
She shall shine throughout the night, and Isa will transform daylight.”
Anmatis knew that he had won, for Isa then became the Sun
And in the sky he was to stay, his Love so very far away
For she had changed into the Moon, and this would ever be their doom

 

Now many days have since gone by, since he cast them to the sky
The rain clouds drifting o'er your head, are filled with tears that Isa’s shed
Leuca’s tears fall from her eyes, and freeze like stars in midnight skies
And twice a year, before the dawn, Anmatis visits Nemeton
His power fails, he must revive, to keep the day and night alive
And at that time, a wondrous sight, the Moon she hides the great Sun’s light
Observing an eclipse that day, it is polite to turn away
For Leuca-Moon and Isa Sun, have just this time to be as one

 

Late at night when in your room, remember Leuca is the Moon
And just before the day is done, remember Isa is the Sun
And don_t be sad for they still live, their light is all the love they give
And even though they are apart, they hold each other in their hearts
And all of you who gather there, at bedroom windows stand and stare
To count the stars or see the Moon, or feel the sun in the afternoon
Know that watching from above, sending you their precious love
Is Leuca who loved everything, and Isa who the birds called King

 
                                             ~ the end ~


                        ©1989 by Paddy Gillard Bentley


 

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