Mannanlochlee, a Fairy Gothic Ballad
Click this link to listen to an audio version of the poem: mannanlochlee
Mannanlochlee is a fairy gothic ballad by Elizabeth Kirwin with musical accompaniment by Charles Hill. Copyright Elizabeth Kirwin and Charles Hill, 2010.
Mannanlochlee is truly a gift from the fairies. After a hands on healing session on a Sunday afternoon with loved ones, I took a short early evening nap. I was awakened by a male voice, a channel I call “Four Toes.” He told me to get up and get my yellow pad, that he had a story I needed to write down. Mannanlochlee came through. The next morning I dreamed of a man, and he was showing me his right foot. He only had 4 toes and I was not certain he was even human — he appeared to be part animal, or at the very least a shapeshifter. I knew that it was my channel, revealing his true nature to me.
Mannanlochlee is a folk tale about a faery king who haunts a castle on a high cliff near the ocean. The dangers of intermingling humans with the faery race are apparent in this piece. I had no idea what to do with this poem. So I asked my friend C. Hill to dust off his pipe organ, and help me to make some music to go with this strange piece.
Mannanlochlee
by Elizabeth Kirwin
There’s a bleak dark castle overlooking the sea.
to the locals of the land,
it is Mannanlochlee.
The common folk are not welcomed up there,
nor are there livestock, their children, or wares.
They say that a hermit inhabits this place.
but the people of the town know better than this.
Tt is not a person that dwells near those cliffs –
it is a member of the faery race.
Long, long ago, Mannanlochlee
was not high on the mountain
but under the sea.
It was the palace of the faery king of the ocean
filled with jewels, fine women and children.
At the long tables there was feasting and laughter –
and a scent to the air of salt and amber.
And the faeries who dwelled there
were filled with passion and grace.
And the mortals who visited
never left.
One fine day, the land started to rumble.
Like a galley of horses, the roar was so loud.
They say that the sea gained three feet in a day–
rooftops and trees were carried away.
a family of six was claimed by the ocean.
Next morning the town saw the storm’s outcome:
towering above them, a huge new mountain!
To the north of the cliffs, stood Mannanlochlee
All day from the castle, they heard a dark keening
Mannan had lost his wives and his children.
So he wanders the cliffs near Mannanlochlee –
forever in search of his earthly family.
No matter how curious the townsfolk may be
none make the climb to Mannanlochlee.
They say on days when there are gales and squalls
one of Mannan’s wives is dashed on the cliffs.
In the early hours of the morning
under a red, red sky, with a soft wind starting,
you may hear the terrible sound
of faery children – screaming.
