Robert Arthur Reeves

The Head of Brân

They brought the head of Brân
over the first river singing.
It sang “in my morning
I was a twin
but my twin brother wasn’t.
He handed me out
to those who needed new arms and legs.”

They brought the head of Brân
over the next river singing.
It sang “in my morning
the lake sent up fire.
We used it to offer the victims,
to blade both swords
and plows.”

They brought the head of Brân
over the next river singing.
It sang “in my morning
I smelt the mare
flying her tail.
She was loping. Then she was hitched.
Then boiled.”

They brought the head of Brân
over the next river singing.
It sang “in my morning
I stretched feet on my daughter’s lap.
After giving sons
she was uncouth of men,
a paled woods thing.”

They brought the head of Brân
over the last river silent
and buried it under the hill.

____

Robert Arthur Reeves lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.