View source for King Thorvald Sails South

''Written by [[Toki Redbeard]] in drottkvaett.  In October of A.S. 39 King [[Thorvald Halvorsson]], called “Thorson,” led the Eastern Army to Crusade against Atlantia. After a hard-fought day, the East was defeated.''<br>
<br>
Full-armoured on fall day,<br>
a fierce horde of sword-trees;<br>
Southern killers calling,<br>
sailed quickly these mailed ones.<br>
Fast otters from east-way,<br>
eager they for slaying.<br>
The grim ship-heads gaping,<br>
hard gusts filling yardage.<br>
<br>
Eagle-hearted oarsmen<br>
rowed iron-studded dragons.<br>
The warships were laden<br>
with wild men from Freehold.<br>
Killers sailed from Coldewoode,<br>
cruel veterans of bear-pits.<br>
Old baresarks and armed-ones<br>
and Ouglies were gathered.<br>
<br>
Eager king, was urging<br>
effort from his Northmen<br>
who swiftly  rowed swan-road <br>
south. Earth was born frosted.<br>
By night ships were sheltered<br>
at shoreline and skerries.<br>
Warrors sought woodfire’s<br>
warmth. Earth was born flaming.<br>
Ships filled coastal shallows.<br>
Swords sharp each one hoarded.<br>
Each crew commenced rowing.<br>
King’s fleet sailed to meeting.<br>
Weird’s onslaught awaited.<br>
Wounder-storm was forming.<br>
Starved for strife was Thorson.<br>
Stately Janos waited.<br>
<br>
Iron earls of tumult<br>
open-tilled lands brainy.<br>
Fierce, their fighters cutting<br>
furrows red and garish.<br>
Seeds were sown for eagles;<br>
swords filled wolf-kin’s bellies.<br>
The fields rich and fertile;<br>
farmers wrath-filled, deathly.<br>
<br>
Stir-heaters. Strife worsened.<br>
Stricken ones. Oaks toppled.<br>
Piercer-storm. Points reddened.<br>
Pale-sundered. Helms splitting.<br>
Whistle-shafts. Wolves lurking.<br>
Wound-flow. Earth painted.<br>
Hilts clattering. Hewn ones.<br>
Hanging-god. Wolves sated.<br>
Volsung howled. Wolves sated.<br>
<br>
The steel draw wands     <br>
struck the tough ones,<br>
as sunshine dripped—    <br>
dripped over hills.<br>
Falling til dark,     <br>
at dusk, men tired.<br>
Horns called  Eastrealm     <br>
to homeward sail.<br>
<br>
Mighty the king.<br>
Mighty North’s son.<br>
Eager the eagles’s friend.<br>
Leading men from--<br>
Leading men to--<br>
cold wrath and cold Northern lands.<br>
<br>
© Michael Dixon

[[Category:Poems and Songs]]