Skip to main content
Poets.org

mobileMenu

  • Poems
  • Poets
  • Poem-a-Day
  • National Poetry Month
  • Materials for Teachers
  • Literary Seminars
  • American Poets Magazine

Main navigation

  • Poets.org
  • Academy of American Poets
  • National Poetry Month
  • American Poets Magazine

User account menu

  • Log in
  • Membership
  • Donate
Donate
Poets.org

Poem-a-Day

The only daily poetry series publishing new work by today’s poets.

Page submenu block

  • find poems
  • find poets
  • poem-a-day
  • literary seminars
  • materials for teachers
  • poetry near you

Poem-a-day

The Battle Hymn of Amergin

translated from the Old Irish by Paul Muldoon

I am a sea squall coming out of nowhere
I am a rogue wave wrecking the joint
I am the surf that breaks with surf-bellows and -blares
I am a stag of seven sticking points
I am a dewdrop clasping the sun in its orb
I am a falcon hang-gliding over the cliff
I am the heartiest of healing herbs
I am a boar that is still battle-stiff
I am a salmon in a plunge pool
I am a lake bringing things to a new level
I am unparalleled not only in poetry school
but the crafts in which others are thought to revel
I am a spear that booty-blazes
I am the god who starts a fire in the head
I am the one who sheds
light on those who rally round a stone-capped tomb
The one who shows the moon’s phases
Who knows why the sun no longer works the room

 


 

The Song of Amergin

 

Ic tabairt a choisse dessi i nHerind asbert Amairgen Glúngel mac Miled in laídseo sís.

1. Am gáeth i mmuir. ar domni.
2. Am tond trethan i tír.
3. Am fúaim mara.
4. Am dam secht ndírend.
5. Am séig i n-aill.
6. Am dér gréne.
7. Am caín lubai.
8. Am torc ar gail.
9. Am hé i llind.
10. Am loch i mmaig
11. Am briandai.
12. Am bri danae.
13. Am gai i fodb. feras feochtu.
14. Am dé delbas do chind codnu.
15. Coiche nod gleith clochur slébe.
16. Cia on cotagair aesa éscai
17. Cia dú i llaig funiud grene.

Copyright © 2026 by Amergin Glúingel, translated by Paul Muldoon. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on September 29, 2026, by the Academy of American Poets.

read the rest

Amergin Glúingel

Amergin Glúingel
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Tumblr
  • View print mode
  • Copy embed code
Add to anthology

Sign up for Poem-a-Day

* indicates required

About Poem-a-Day

Poem-a-Day is the original and only daily digital poetry series featuring over 250 new, previously unpublished poems by today’s talented poets each year. Maya C. Popa is the Guest Editor for September. Read or listen to a Q&A with Maya about her curatorial process, and learn more about the 2026 Guest Editors. Support Poem-a-Day.  

If you have any questions about Poem-a-Day, visit our Poem-a-Day FAQ.

Previous Poems

Title Author Date
Nailing Things Down Linda Susan Jackson 02/04/2022
Three Wrong Notes Joel Dias-Porter 02/03/2022
Not Once Sharon Olds 02/02/2022
From “Autobiography of My Alter Ego” Yusef Komunyakaa 02/01/2022
February Tamiko Beyer 01/31/2022
The Crystal Gazer Sara Teasdale 01/30/2022
Apparition Stéphane Mallarmé 01/29/2022
testify Eve L. Ewing 01/28/2022
Afternoon in Andalusia Sahar Romani 01/27/2022
Inspiration Point Jennifer Jean 01/26/2022

Pagination

  • First page « First
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page 169
  • Page 170
  • Page 171
  • Page 172
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

Newsletter Sign Up

Support Us

  • Become a Member
  • Donate Now
  • Get Involved
  • Make a Bequest
  • Advertise with Us

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • SoundCloud
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Footer

  • poets.org

    • Find Poems
    • Find Poets
    • Poetry Near You
    • Jobs for Poets
    • Literary Seminars
    • Privacy Policy
    • Press Center
    • Advertise
  • academy of american poets

    • About Us
    • Programs
    • Prizes
    • First Book Award
    • James Laughlin Award
    • Ambroggio Prize
    • Chancellors
    • Staff
  • national poetry month

    • Poetry & the Creative Mind
    • Dear Poet Project
    • Poster
    • Sponsorship
  • american poets

    • Books Noted
    • Essays
    • Advertise
© Academy of American Poets, 195 Broadway 9th Floor, New York, NY 10007
poets .org