The Anathemata

Mabinog’s Liturgy (continued)

Thirty-four years

(now that the March Lucina’s past)5 

thirty-four years and twenty-one days

since that germinal March

and terminal day

(no drought that year)

David Jones notes

5 Juno under the title of Lucina, light-bringer, the goddess of birth, was honoured at the beginning of each month, but the month of March was hers especially.

additional notes

germinal March’ because it was in that month that Mary conceived (twenty one days before the date referred to in the previous paragraph, i.e. March 25). And of course the French Republican month Germinal began on 21 (or 22) March. ‘no drought’ because there was indeed fruit (of Mary’s womb) that year.

comments

The poet moves from the Crucifixion to the Conception.

semantic structures

glossary