Celtic Stencil B “A Face Like Fresh Appleblossom”
Celtic Symbols and Language 
A Granite Bay Design Microsite
“…a face like fresh appleblossom…”
ANCIENT CELTIC POETRY*
Réalta [an] chruinne Caitir Fhíona
fhóireas Gréagaigh,
fóiridh forgla clann gach chóigidh
ann ar éagaibh.
Caitir Fhíona inghean [chasda]
craobh na buaidhe,
gnúis mar blath na habhla úire
abhra [uaine].*
Abhra uaine ag inghin Gréigríogh
nar ghabh guidhe
[a-táid] i ndath a gruadh gile
‘s snuadh na suibhe.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Star of the world, Catherine,
the helper of the Greeks,
Helping the chosen children, saving each,
there at their dying.
Catherine, honored daughter,
branch of virtue,
a face like fresh appleblossom,
green brow.
A green brow on the Greek king’s daughter
not captured by a suitor–
in the shade of her cheeks is brightness
and a berry’s color.
* An excerpt from a longer poem. Stencils are rendered by Dutch artist Co Sinhoven and are his modern interpretation of “The Book of Kells.” All of this artwork is in the public domain. Learn more about the artist here.
