Niamh of the Golden Hair by Alan Lee 1978

"Amazed we halt, though hot the chase,
To gaze on the face of the fair young queen—
A marvel to Finn and his Fenian band
Who ne’er in the land such beauty had seen!

A golden crown on her brow she bore,
A mantle she wore of silken sheen
All studded with stars of bright red gold—
Ample each fold fell on herbage green.

Her golden hair all fair to view
In golden curls on her shoulders fell—
Bright and pure were her eyes of blue
As drops of the dew in a blue hare-bell,

Ruddier far her cheek than the rose
Her bosom more white than the swan’s so free,
Sweeter the breath of her balmy mouth
Than spice of the south from over the sea."

-Micheál Coimín (1676-1760): The lay of Oisín in the land of youth, Stanzas 7-10

Niamh of the Golden Hair by Alan Lee 1978 from the book "Faeries".

Source:

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/418342252867624110/

Quote:

https://archive.org/details/laoioisnasirnang00coim/page/4/mode/2up