In days of old when now was then,
A babe sat keening, bain sidhe’s mournful strain,
Within the glade, where naught appeared to sight,
Yet lantern Jack cast shadows in the night.
Both fey and devil, angel too, did spurn,
The one who caused fair Cliodhna’s tears to churn.

A babe so spectre thin and gaunt and frail,
A babe so fraught no Danann dare to touch,
Scorned by mortals and heard in frightened tale,
Until fey and devil did claim them such.

A changeling child not changeling born,
Did bring to Medb a heimal warmth,
Still the spectre Erin sits alone and keens,
And at her keen does pause the faerie queen,
At the keen, the keen with echoed thrills,
Through the barrows of the ever still.

And then the day which is but now,
The changeling babe does ever keen,
A babe embraced by deadly ploughs,
And scorned by mortal and the faerie queen.