Mandollin

Just my attempt at the Epic Poem genre

MANDOLLIN
14.12.81

SEA DOGS ON A MIGHTY VESSEL,
LOUD AT NIGHT THEY CRAZE AND FALL
THROUGH STORM AND SWELL ON SEA-SPRAY WINGS
ABOARD THE MANDOLLIN.

‘DECK OUT THE LONGSHIPS, MY REGAL WARSHIPS,
BRING ME MY BOW, MY BROADSWORD AND SHIELD.
THE SEA BEGS FOR COMPANY, BEGS FOR MY SOUL;
MY SOUL BEGS FOR VICTORY OUT IN THE COLD.

‘SPARE ME YOUR WEEPING, MY WOMAN, MY CHILD.
THIS SEA IS NO OGRE AS GOD GUIDES MY HAND.
THERE ARE ARMIES TO MUSTER AND TALES TO BEGIN
AS WE GO A-VIKING ON PROUD MANDOLLIN.

‘THERE ARE LANDS GREEN AND WEALTHY, OUR AXES ARE HUNGRY.
OUR HEARTS PLEAD FOR PLUNDER, OUR SONGS SING OF BLOOD.
MY SHIP LIES A-WAITING, HER SAILS TO THE WIND,
WE LEAVE ON THE NOONTIDE ON FAIR MANDOLLIN.’

AND SO THE MIGHTY CHIEFTAIN SAILED;
RAISED HIS STANDARD, BLESSED HIS ARMIES,
AND MANDOLLIN PROUD BORE HER LORDS ‘CROSS THE WATER
IN VICTORY'S NAME THROUGH THE GREY SHEETS OF RAIN…

THE VILLAGE IS QUIET THIS SEASON AGAIN
BUT FOR THE YELPING OF CHILDREN
AND THE CROONING OF THE OLD ONES.
STILL THE WOMEN KEEP THEIR LONELY VIGIL
EVERY EVENING BY THE SEA
WITH THEIR FEET IN THE WATER, THEIR EYES TO THE SUN,
THEIR BRAIDED HAIR GREYING, THEIR WEAVING UNDONE.
AND SUMMER CHASES AUTUMN AND WINTER CATCHES SPRING,
BUT STILL NO WORD HAS REACHED OUR SHORES
OF THE LONGSHIP MANDOLLIN.

‘DECK OUT THE LONGSHIPS, MY REGAL WARSHIPS,
BRING ME MY BOW, MY BROADSWORD AND SPEAR.
MY LOVE CRIES IN SOLITUDE, CRIES FOR OUR CHILD,
BUT MY SOUL CRIES FOR VICTORY OUT IN THE WILD.’

Kristofer