Legends of the Irish Poets —–by The Wandering Bard* “It is the blackest of infamies to conceal the truth of history,” Old Irish proverb The poets, called either filí, or filean, were also collectively known as aes dana, which translates to men of arts. They were the servants of the Goddess Dana, (Ana-Áine).They moved freely throughout Ireland and were respected everywhere they went. Poets operated at the thresholds of space and time among uncomfortable truths. These truths they worked into harmonious knowledge for the rest of the community. They were versed in the law, history, genealogy, and science. These were all kept in verse. They held knowledge of the future and the past, and were tied not just to this world, but to the other world as well. Before one could be given the rank of poet, which in the Celtic world was a rank only exceeded by a king or prince, one had to apprentice for up to twenty years and memorize all of the great historical works. Poets were expected to memorize everything and to write only one copy of their work, that one copy would be in Greek, to ensure that referring to it would not be easy. Their apprenticeship was in dark underground caves where they were taught the rules of poetry. Even when they did attend an event where a Bard was singing their works, they remained in the shadows Facing Tír na n’Óg, (The land of eternal youth) It is said that a poet from birth would always prefer the dark and avoid any bright lights. If a poet survived the apprenticeship, they were expected to maintain a constant exchange with the other world. As one legend demonstrates, in repayment for the gift of fire, the God Mide asked for a tithe of pork and flour. In the Iron Age, the Irish Druids (also poets) refused to pay the tax. Mide gathered all of the Druids of Erin together in one house and cut off all of their tongues, and buried them under the earth of Uisnech. The lesson here being that the Irish poets must exchange gifts with the other world or they should be silent for they are not true poets at all. You cannot long study Irish history without running into the poets, for they are the authors of much of the recorded history, and an integral part of the same. The poets were there to warn the people of unseen danger and to predict the future, not just through their abilities as seers, but also through the knowledge of the past, and how it relates to the current events driving them to a foreseeable future. The Irish poets of today warn that the Troubles will never be over until the oppressors are driven from the land of Erin. Heed the warnings of the poets, or be prepared to live with the consequences of your complacency. *Copyright © 2000 Daryl L. Chambers, Jr, "The Wandering Bard." Note: For more information on Irish poets and Irish legends, get Mythical Ireland, by Michael Dames.  ISBN 0-500-27872-5 Page last updated 8 May 2006 Website Design and Myths & Magic logo by Míchealín Daugherty Copyright © 2006 Ireland's OWN All Rights Reserved.