Celtic Tales in Old Legends and New Fables
Celtic tales worked their way into three of the poems of Old Legends and New Fables, specifically “A Man of the Earth,” “The Cromlech Glen, and “If You See the Black Dog.”
I haven’t been able to retrace the details of the legend that inspired “A Man of the Earth,” but it has some bits in common with the Dullahan and the kelpies, though neither one is a perfect fit. If you know of a story where a man comes out of the earth and has to find a wife within 24 hours, that’s the source of this one! (And if you do know, please leave me a comment, because I would love to be reminded where this one started!)
“The Cromlech Glen” is named after my favorite sculpture and the fact that the sculpture it refers to isn’t quite what the name would imply. But the idea of standing stones and burial circles turned this into a poem of someone looking for their deceased loved one.
Finally, “If You See the Black Dog” is very much based on the tales of the barghest or black dog, which is prevalent throughout the British Isles, and generally perceived as an omen of death.
This collection also includes “There Are Still Dragons in London, Saint George,” which is a combination of English legends and urban fantasy, inspired by a ride on the Tube.
You can find all of these and more legends from other cultures in Old Legends and New Fables!
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