Children of Lir by George William Russell
The Children of Lir is a story from Irish mythology about four children who were turned into swans by their stepmother and spent 900 years in exile. They eventually returned to human form after hearing the sound of a bell ringing at a church. The story has been retold many times over the centuries, including in poetry and plays.
By George William Russell · First published 1923 · Genre: Mythology, Poetry, Fantasy · 282 words
First lines
We woke from our sleep in the bosom where cradled together we lay: / The love of the Dark Hidden Father went with us upon our way.
And gay was the breath in our being, and never a sorrow or fear / Was on us, as singing together, we flew from the infinite Lir.
Through nights lit with diamond and sapphire we raced with the / Children of Dawn, / A chain that was silver and golden linked spirit to spirit, my swan.
Till day in the heavens passed over, and still grew the beat / of our wings, / And the Breath of the Darkness enfolded to teach us unspeakable things.
What this Textopian page supports
Children of Lir is listed on Textopian as a poem by George William Russell, dated 1923 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: George William Russell
- Date: 1923 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mythology, Poetry, Fantasy, Romance, Spiritual
- Length: 282 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Children of Lir by George William Russell
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Similar titles
- The Song Of Deirdra by George Borrow
- Blodeuwedd by Frederic Manning
- The Swan Neck by Charles Kingsley
- The Six Swans by Dinah Mulock
- Born Of Water by George Macdonald
- The Mermaid by George Macdonald
Genres
- Mythology — The narrative is based on a mythological tale involving transformation and divine elements.
- Poetry — The writing style is lyrical and poetic, with a focus on rhythm and imagery.
- Fantasy — The story includes fantastical elements such as transformation and mythical beings.
- Romance — Themes of love and longing are central to the narrative.
Tags
Irish mythology · fairy tale · legend · family · transformation · curses · nature · magic · sorrow · loss · rebirth · love