Hi,

I'm so glad to be able to post. I enjoy these challenges. I was reading Turco's book (again!) and was thrilled to see people attempting some of the more esoteric Celtic forms on line. I'm plunking here, but I'm tempted to throw a lot of money here because, FINALLY, someone is doing something I'm interested in. It's a huge community, and overwhelming, but I can't tell you what a wonder it is that you people are actually out there. Thanks.

Here's my attempt at the Rionnaird Tri-Nard

Shunning night, mares run wrenched
reined back by drear vision
dark issued; Day, ransom
herd of anguished passion!

I read in Turco's "Book of Forms" that the last syllable and the first had to be same.

I think that part of why people think these forms are difficult is because, in English, we are compelled to think the thought first (or image) and fit the words to it. You get a wonderful image from the first line and try to make the form fit that image. In much poetry, the image is secondary to the sonics. The Celtic languages are extremely easy to rhyme or consonate, unlike English and other Germanic languages, so the challenge is in getting out the rhyming dictionary and junking your original attachments (or writing two poems!).

I do like the internal rhyming demands where the last syllable has to rhyme with the second of the third line and the third of the fourth line.

Very interesting structure. You all definitely have been touched by the bards of our past, maybe reincarnated? I love the ancient imagery coming out in your poetry. Lilja, you really know what it feels like to stand in camp on a cold morning--do you have a horse--very real feeling. Aisliann, I love the contrast between the external feeling of being drenched in a storm and the inner storm. Nice draw between the two feelings, inside and out. MacMorna, I like the lead in that gets thwarted by the turnaround. That you expect death and then death passes over. It alludes to the feeling of age in a very real way, but also in a very spiritual way that seems old and wise.

Thanks! Write some more!
Lonrach