To Every Cow its Calf
Searles

Sat Sep 12 12:44:32 1998
Frequently it is discussed and debated among Pagans and celts *br*as to what may be a part of the coimgne and what might be the *br*property of an author or writer.  How to charge for such things and *br*even what to charge is sometimes confusing.  The following *br*addresses a part of that issue:*p*Many of the triads are traditional and their posting on the Web would violate *br*noone's copyright.  Collections of such triads from the traditions do not have*br*exclusive copyright to the source information.  If one were to take the*br*collection itself and post it, then that would be a violation of their*br*copyright.  We have every right and obligation ourselves to collect and*br*discuss such triads from the traditions and the ancient sources.  I have a*br*collection of Welsh triads from Rachel Bromwich book (though the book*br*itself is copyrighted).  I also have some of the ancient Irish triads from*br*other sources.  I'm currently looking for a more comprehensive collection*br*of those.  Once we've worked out matters of copyright, I think we should be*br*able to start posting the triads of the Celtic people here again.*p*To paraphrase a Celtic triad from a completely independent source:*p*        Three people who will not listen:*p*                A dictator seeking conquests,*br*                A capitalist seeking profits,*br*                A fundamentalist in the grasp of holiness.*p*I would never charge someone for the wisdom of a triad, but if I had gone*br*through the time, trouble and expense to compile and collect hundreds of*br*triads, then that collection would be my copyrighted property to sell or*br*give away freely as I chose to do.  There is a difference between work that*br*is done as a collection and knowledge that is the propert of the culture. *br*This is what my "signature" means below, "He/she is not a Poet that does*br*not preserve the ancient and common knowledge nor harmonize their telling."*br* Such "coimcne" is a part of our culture and not for sale, though the work*br*of collecting and publishing it is definately for sale.  Poets could not*br*survive without patrons.*p*"I ask, who will buy a poem?*br*Its meaning is the true learning of sages.*br*Would anyone take, does anyone want,*br*a noble poem which would make him immortal?*p*Though this is a poem of close-knit lore,*br*I have walked all Munster with it,*br*every market-place from cross to cross - *br*and it has brought me no profit from last year to present.*p*Though a groat would be a small payment,*br*no man nor any woman offered it;*br*not a man spoke of the reason, *br*but neither Irish nor English heeded me.*p*An art like this is no profit to me,*br*though it is hard that it should die out;*br*it would be more dignified to go and make combs - *br*why should anyone take up poetry?*p*Corc of Cashel lives no more, nor Cian,*br*who did not hoard up cattle nor the price of them,*br*men who were generous in rewarding poets - *br*alas, it is good-bye to the race of E/ibhear.*p*The prize for generosity was never taken from them,*br*until Cobthach died, and Ta/l; I spare to mention the many kindreds *br*for whom I might have continued to make poetry. *p*I am like a trading ship that has lost its freight,*br*after the FitzGeralds who deserved reknown.*br*I hear no offers - how that torments me! *br*It is a vain quest about which I ask."*p*                The words of the Fili, Mahon O'Heffernan*br*                (from the early 17th century, during the *br*                decline of Irish civilisation)*p*This poem was found in _A Celtic Miscellany_ by Kenneth Hurlstone Jackson.*p*Who should we pay for its beauty?  Alas, that the Fili are gone for a lack*br*of patrons! Alas, that the coimcne is not better preserved!  Alas for the*br*lack of  "Rannaigheacht dialtach mhor",  ("great one-syllabled*br*versification").  Would that there were sponsors or patrons for a poem. *br*Who will preserve the coimcne?*p*Searles*p*"Ní fili nad chomgne comathar nad scéla uile."*p*