Cymidei Cymeinfoll by Diane Finkle Perazzo

Carbon and quartz; granite and marble.
Her iron bones were forged in fire.
Her heavy body was carved from stone.

She rose up through black water and rocky soil,
up to the out and around, and born into
the green and growing ground.

As she walked, the ground rumbled and shook.
Rocks rolled and tumbled from the mountains
and Roman roads crumbled where she stepped. 

She brought a gift they did not ask for; a vessel
forged in fire from the womb of the earth — 
a life-giving cauldron of renewal and birth.  

They invited her to their feast table, but
soon grew tired of her tangled hair,
her muddy feet and ragged fingernails.

They tried to destroy her with the fire and forge
that gave her birth. And though she escaped,
the screams of her dying children will forever ring in her ears.

The truth is, you are all the same to her.
Her cauldron is and always was nothing more than
the belly of the earth that birthed her.

And now she is no longer your ally.
Her heavy footsteps cause the snow to slide in avalanches
and rocks to tumble and bury your villages.

Her breath is the howling wind
and her voice is the crashing thunder.

Her blood rises and spews from volcanoes that
pour hot lava down the mountains.

Her tears are the rain that pummels your homes
and the rising flood waters
that will wash your world away.

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In the Welsh Mabinogion, Cymidei Cymeinfoll (meaning “pregnant in battle”) and her husband (or possibly son) Llasar Llaesgyfnewid were two giants who lived under a lake in Ireland. Cymidei and Llasar were the keepers of the Cauldron of Regeneration which could bring dead warriors back to life as mutes who then returned to battle. Cymidei also give birth to a fully formed and armed warrior every six weeks,

Cymidei and Llasar were invited to live in the court of Matholwich, the King of Ireland, but within a few months, their boisterous and uncouth behavior disturbed the nobles of the court who petitioned the King to be rid of them.  Rather than simply asking them to leave, Matholwich ordered the construction of a massive chamber made of iron and then lured Cymidei, Llasar and their children into it with the promise of a great feast. Once the family was in, they locked the doors and heated the building from the outside like a great iron forge.  The two giants managed to escape but their children were all burned to death. 

Cymidei and Llasar managed to flee to Wales where they presented their Cauldron of Regeneration to King Bendigeidfran as a peace offering.  They were welcomed there, and their subsequent children integrated into Welsh communities where they were considered the “best men and arms that anyone has ever seen.” (from Patrick Ford’s translation of the Mabinogi).

I like to think of Cymidei as being similar to the Cailleach; she is of the very earth itself, both loved and feared–truly an Earth Goddess who represents the power and the divinity of the land.

Like our Mother Earth, Cymidei’s generous gifts of life and rebirth could be used to build a forgiving and abundant land. Instead, they are misused by power hungry rulers and when she is no longer useful, she is pushed away and destroyed.

Her story seems particularly relevant to us today as we struggle to comprehend the ongoing horrific slaughter of innocent people all over the world and the constant feeding of the giant global war machine. 

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May these words bring truth and healing through open hands and hearts. And then let it flow back to our Mother Earth for the love of all her Beings.

BIO: Diane Perazzo is a writer, editor, poet and Reclaiming “eco witch” who lives in Ottawa Canada — unceded original territory of the Algonquin, St Lawrence Iroquoian and Anishinabewaki, (ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᒃ) people. For many years Diane has written and edited resources to enhance wellness and improve health equity for those at risk of physical and mental health challenges. As she eases into her crone years, her writing has become more focused on crafting words that strive to echo the magical and mythic voices of the living land, especially plant beings. Her poetry and stories can be found at www.dianeperazzo.com.