Columcille Fecit (Columba Made It)

(St. Columba - found here)

Delightful would it be to me to be in Uchd Ailiun
   On the pinnacle of a rock,
That I might often see
   The face of the ocean;
That I might see its heaving waves
   Over the wide ocean,
When they chant music to their Father
   Upon the world’s course;
That I might see its level sparkling strand,
   It would be no cause of sorrow;
That I might hear the song of the wonderful birds,
   Source of happiness;
That I might hear the thunder of the crowding waves
   Upon the rocks;
That I might hear the roar by the side of the church
   Of the surrounding sea;
That I might see its noble flocks
   Over the watery ocean;
That I might see the sea-monsters,
   The greatest of all wonders;
That I might see its ebb and flood
   In their career;
That my mystical name might be, I say,
   Cul ri Erin;
That contrition might come upon my heart
   Upon looking at her;
That I might bewail my evils all,
   Though it were difficult to compute them;
That I might bless the Lord
   Who conserves all,
Heaven with its countless bright orders,
   Land, strand and flood;
That I might search the books all,
   That would be good for my soul;
At times kneeling to beloved Heaven;
   At times Psalm singing;
At times contemplating the King of Heaven,
   Holy the chief;
At times at work without compulsion,
   This would be delightful.
At times plucking duilisc from the rocks;
   At times at fishing;
At times giving food to the poor;
   At times in a carcair:
The best advice in the presence of God
   To me has been vouchsafed.
The King whose servant I am will not let
   Anything deceive me.

~St. Columba (translated from the Irish by Michael O’Curry)

Notes:
Cul ri Erin: back turned to Ireland.
duilisc: seaweed.

carcair: solitary cell.