This article is based on this dutch article of Martijn Benders
### Fianna Fáil: The Soldiers of Destiny as Swans
The cover of Ginneninne. It appears to be two holy swans, one pecking at the back of the other. But in reality, it’s “FF” turned upside down, symbolizing Fianna Fáil. The word “Fianna” refers to the ancient military organization from around the 3rd century AD that was the standing army of its time. The word “Fáil” means “Destiny.”
Beyond its historical significance as an old military organization, the word “Fianna” also carries deeper cultural and mythological meanings in Irish history and folklore. The Fianna were semi-legendary warriors featured in Irish mythology, particularly known from tales about Fionn mac Cumhaill and the Fianna of Ireland. These warriors were famed for their roles as protectors of the kingdom and their adventures, which often involved themes of honor, courage, and brotherhood.
In literature and stories, the Fianna often represent ideals of heroism and noble qualities, and their tales are still cherished as a vital part of Ireland’s cultural heritage.
The god Aengus is a deity of love, beauty, and youth, playing a central role in the story of “The Dream of Aengus.” In this tale, Aengus dreams of a beautiful woman whom he searches for everywhere. She eventually appears as a swan, and Aengus transforms himself into a swan so they can be together.
The ‘Soldiers of Destiny’ as two swans—could anything be more Irish? However, you can’t expect any interpretation from Dutch ‘reviewers.’ They lack the understanding; at best, you’ll get some tepid report about what they thought of the book. As if anyone cares. No, let’s take a look at the back cover of the book, arguably the most beautiful back cover ever on a poetry collection:
What a relief after all those terrible commercial covers with huge smiling poets’ faces. A beautiful green and a text that is out of focus: made old with your time. As if time were something you paint with. The text is almost faded, escaping attention.
This line also returns in the opening poem. This is the opening poem as a song:
In which I play together with my daughter: Mavi plays the Vintage Vibe Electric piano, and I play the Planet T.
The whole poem is, of course, a kind of spinoff of the Smiths’ song “Reel around the Fountain”:
It’s time the tale were told
Of how you took a child
And you made him old
It’s time the tale were told
Of how you took a child
And you made him old
You made him old
Reel around the fountain
Slap me on the patio
I’ll take it now
Oh…
It’s not the same text; it only states that the person was made old but not made old with the time of another. And “reeling” around the fountain of youth, because there’s no Dutch word that fits for “reel”:
/rɪəl/ to walk, moving from side to side, looking like you are going to fall: At closing time he reeled out of the bar and fell down on the pavement. She hit him so hard that he reeled backwards.
My choice isn’t so strange if you look at the etymology of the word “rellen,” which seems to come from Middle French:
From Middle French railler.
**Verb**
rail (third-person singular simple present rails, present participle railing, simple past and past participle railed)
1. To complain violently (against, about).
Synonyms: fulminate, inveigh
And so “made old with your time” sounds a bit like a complaint. And all this around the fountain of youth, no less!
Well, I have started working on something; I’m turning Ginneninne into a real modern Celtic Opera.
I have now turned page 1 of the collection into a 6-minute-long piece of music. For now, I’m keeping these pieces to myself until I have a consistent work that can be listened to for an extended period.
The cactus, which according to my poetry collection was also the editor-in-chief of the collection, is doing very well: