Ossian Collection > Carmina gadelica

DEATH 369
THE DAY OF DEATH
The old people had a great desire for good weather at the death and burial
of a person. It was a good sign that the elements should be at peace at that
time. There were two reasons for this. If there was peace on earth it was
a sign that there was peace in heaven and a welcome for him who had gone
and that the King of all creatures was at peace with him and His own
two mighty arms open to take the immortal soul home to Himself. And
if there was peace on earth this gave opportunity to friends and kindred
to come to the burial and take farewell of the body in the natural earth
and in the grave of the fathers.
If the weather was bad it was a sign that God was wroth. And the
bad weather kept friends and kindred from coming to the burial.
If the day was wet or misty it was a sign that the King of the elements
was pouring wrath on the earth. If the day was black, dark and stormy
it showed that God, the Creator of all creatures, was pouring the black
wrath of His grief on the soul of him who had gone. If it was a day of snow
this was a sign that the white wrath of God was upon the bruised soul
that had gone over the black river of death.
The black wrath of the God of life
Is upon the soul of gloom as it goes ; [of frowns
The white wrath of the King of the stars
Is upon the soul of the dumb concealments.
A perfect calm is on sea and on land,
Peace is on moor and on meadow, [on earth
The King's joyful glance and smile
Are to the feeble one down on ocean.
Day of peace and of joy
The bright day of my death ;
May Michael's hand seek me
On the white sunny day of my salvation.
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