 |
 |
Alison, Alison, what on earth are you doing? Can you imagine yourself, in a poem by yourself, writing sentences like 'He was the strongest of men,/ and noble.' Come off it lass!! it's risible, and you can do better than that. All the Best Dave 2008/11/24 Alison Croggon <[log in to unmask]>: > III > > > The son of Half-Dane brooded on sorrow. > Wise and strong, woe beat him down, > the hate too strong, the strife too constant, > too cruel the hurts that battered his people, > this enemy filling the night with terror. > > Then Hygelac's thane, beloved of the Geats, > heard of Grendel. He was the strongest of men, > and noble. At once he ordered a good ship, > and said he would sail the swan's road > and bring his warriors to this war-king. > Dear as he was to them, no one hindered him: > far-sighted men studied the omens > and urged him on. From the Geat people > he chose champions, and fifteen together > he led them down to the wave-fretted shore. > Under the cliffs their sleek ship waited > where currents curled the sea against sand, > and the sea-skilled fighters, bold and impatient, > stepped up to its prow. > > Into its breast they bore bright weapons, > worthy war-gear, and then thrust out > in a well-braced ship eager for venture, > the wind urging their foam-necked bird > over the waves. > On the second day > the seafarers saw their journey's ending, > shining sea-cliffs and wide headlands. > Thanking God for a smooth crossing > swiftly the warriors moored their ship > and stepped onto land, their mail-shirts rattling. > From his sea-cliff walls the Scyldings warden > saw them bear their bright-bossed shields > and battle-gear over the gangplank, > and wondered aloud, who were these men? > He rode to the shore and shook his spear > and fiercely asked them, in formal words: > "What manner of men are you, mail-wearers, > who set your tall keel thus to the waves > and this way come? What is your business?" > > He was the sea-guard. Under his watch > no enemies landed unseen in Denmark > to ravage the coast. > > "Never before in all my time > have I seen shieldbearers land with less guile, > although you have neither word nor leave > of our war-makers, nor our kinsmen. > Nor have I seen a mightier lord > than this helmed man who stands before me. > He's no churl dressed up in fine armour > unless his looks belie his nature. > Now I demand to hear your names > and your lineage, or you will be labelled > spies in Denmark. Strangers, hear me: > plain thought and haste are best." > > > > -- > Editor, Masthead: http://www.masthead.net.au > Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com > Home page: http://www.alisoncroggon.com > -- David Bircumshaw Website and A Chide's Alphabet http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.bircumshaw/ The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk