June 28

Fairly quiet day. Worked a little on "O Canada" while I was at Sisters, but then napped in the afternoon. Spent some time gathering papers so I can do the end of the month bookkeeping and make sure that all the levels of government get their money. Talk about a make work project!

Today's poem needs a bit of explanation. A "lyke" is a corpse, a "wake" is a night vigil kept by it, a "whinny-muir" is a moor with thorny shrubs, "bane" is bone and "brig" is bridge.

A Lyke-Wake Dirge

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,
-- Every nighte and alle,
Fire and fleet and candle-lighte,
And Christe receive they saule.

When thou from hence away art past,
-- Every nighte and alle,
To Whinny-muir thou com'st at last;
And Christe receive thy saule.

If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon,
-- Every night and alle,
Sit thee down and put them on;
And Christe receive thy saule.

If hosen and shoon thou ne'er gav'st nane
-- Every nighte and alle,
The whinnes sall prick thee to the bare bane;
And Christe receive thy saule.

From Whinny-muir when thou may'st pass,
-- Every night and alle,
To Brig o'Dread thou com'st at last;
And Christe receive thy saule.

From Brig o'Dread when thou may'st pass,
-- Every nighte and alle,
To Purgatory fire thou com'st at last;
And Christe receive thy saule.

If ever thou gavest meat or drink,
-- Every nighte and alle,
The fire sall never make thee shrink;
And Christe receive thy saule.

If meat or drink thou ne'er gav'st nane,
-- Every nighte and alle,
The fire will burn thee to the bare bane;
And Christe receive thy saule.

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,
-- Every nighte and alle,
Fire and fleet and candle-lighte,
And Christe receive thy saule.

Anonymous