Beserker for Friend David

narrative verse

 

Beserker.

 

 

The prospects now were looking grim,

 So Thorvald sang his battle hymn,

stripped off his sark he would fight bare.

No braver warrior anywhere.

 

Today he’d slay or would be slain

 But either was sure to gain

If he should stand or he should fall.

Valhalla welcomes heroes all

 

His gleaming axe would drink fresh blood

He was determined that it should

He charged head long into the fray

 and very quickly hacked his way.

 

Through foemen who stood little chance

 to stop or hinder his advance.

He cut then down like standing corn.

And thus was Thorvalds legend born.

 

He is remembered still today.

 The warrior who cut his way

through a host of his sworn foes

As every Danish schoolboy knows.

 

Thorvald survived and led his men

 back to their homeland once again

Their long boats laden heavily

with all the spoils of victory.

 

The gods themselves looked on amazed

as Thorvald and his men were praised

 It seemed to Odin it was mete.

They had snatched victory from defeat.

 

Thorvald had earned undying fame

 and no man dared dispute his claim

To win a fight against such odds

 He must be favoured by the Gods.

 

Thorvald was brave but also wise.

He knew enough to recognise

The Gods were prone to jealousy

 If not treated respectfully.

 

Though Thorvald reached a ripe old age

 And was regarded as a sage

 He knew there was no guarantee

the gods still viewed him favourably.

 

 He was content to stay at home

 and let the younger warriors roam.

In their longboats in search of fame

As he had done to win his name.

 

31-Oct-08

 

http:// blog.myspace.com.poeticpiers

Reviews

[David Lewis Paget]

There are some great tales to be had from the Viking sagas, Piers. I find it strange that our early education in England always veered towards the Roman Pantheon of Gods, rather than the Norse Myths, with which we had more in common. It's a sadly neglected area, but you've done well reviving Thorvald for the modern reader.
David.

[Donald Meikle]

What was that old saying about treachery and older wiser men?