The tops of the beech tree have sprouted of late,
Are changed and renewed from their withered state.
When the beech prospers, though spells and litanies
The oak tops entangle, there is hope for trees.
I have plundered the fern, through all secrets I spy,
Old Math ap Mathonwy knew no more than I.
For with nine sorts of faculty God has gifted me,
I am fruit of fruits gathered from nine sorts of tree--
Plum, quince, whortle, mulberry, respberry, pear,
Black cherry and white, with the sorb in me share.
From my seat at Fefynedd, a city that is strong,
I watched the trees and green things hastening along.
Retreating from happiness they would fein be set
In forms of the chief letters of the alphabet.
Wayfarers wandered, warriors were dismayed
At renewal of conflicts such as Gwydion made;
Under the tongue root a fight most dread,
And another raging, behind, in the head.
The alders in the front line began the affray.
Willow and rowan-tree were tardy in array.
The holly, dark green, made a resolute stand;
He is armed with many spear-points wounding the hand.
With foot-beat of the swift oak heaven and earth rung;
"Stout Guardian of the Door", his name in every tongue.
Great was the gorse in battle, and the ivy at his prime;
The hazel was arbiter at this charmed time.
Uncouth and savage was the fir, cruel the ash tree--
Turns not aside a foot-breadth, straight at the heart runs he.
The birch, though very noble, armed himself but late:
A sign not of cowardice but of high estate.
The heath gave consolation to the toil-spent folk,
The long-enduring poplars in battle much broke.
Some of them were cast away on the field of fight
Because of holes torn in them by the enemy's might.
Very wrathful was the vine whose henchmen are the elms;
I exalt him mightily to rulers of realms.
Strong chieftains were the blackthorn with his ill fruit,
The unbeloved whitethorn who wears the same suit.
The swift-pursuing reed, the broom with his brood,
And the furse but ill-behaved until he is subdued.
The dower-scattering yew stood glum at the fight's fringe,
With the elder slow to burn amid fires that singe.
And the blessed wild apple laughing in pride
From the Gorchan of Maeldrew, by the rock side.
In shelter linger privet and woodbine,
Inexperienced in warfare, and the courtly pine.
But I, although slighted because I was not big,
Fought, trees, in your array on the field of Goddeu Brig.
The above poem, an early Celtic work of great antiquity also known as "The Battle of the Trees," was originally composed by Gwion and is found in the Book of Taliesin, a Thirteenth Century Welsh manuscript. The work documents a battle between Arawn, King of Annwfn and a ploughman named Amaethon. The hostilities ostensibly arose through an act of theft committed by Amaethon. The crux of the poem centers on the use of a magical staff which transforms trees into fighting men and is believed to be the recordation of the powers ascribed to the trees at that time.
There are many varied translations of the original version...the one which appears here was taken from "The White Goddess" by Robert Graves.
