| A
Song of AEthelstan |
Song
of Sable Spear |
A
Song for Francois |
|
| A
Song of AEthelstan |
| Hwaet! |
|
| Harken eorls and ceorls
// and thegn-men listen |
| Song of life now sung // and spoken, broken |
| On the roads of dreaming // dark upon |
| The minds of all those // thegns who fear him |
|
|
| Dread AEthelstan is he // hard and hardy |
| Foe
to those who seek // Saxons to slay |
| Hungry
will their bellies be // before their thirst |
| For Saxon blood is slaked // so says our
Sovereign |
|
|
| Up from Edward’s house // he rises, friend |
| To Men of Mercia’s // mead-halls |
| Brother of the fallen AElfwaerd// also Eadwine |
| Yet amongst us // mighty half-kin, heir of
Wessex |
|
|
| Likewise makes he // peace with North-men |
| Sits
with Britons // bides with Welshmen |
| All at Eamont eager // allies, bound in |
| Councils called in // Yorkshire, all united |
|
|
| From
his foundling seat // in Malmesbury famous |
| To the Minster newly-minted // deep within the
heart of Wessex |
| Eorl
and thegn in one voice speak it // sing the song of regent’s justice |
| Forged within the fires at Grately // iron
words of legal binding |
|
|
| Maker
of the far-flung Kingdoms // kin of Royal line go forward |
| Sisters of the High-King seated // sovereigns
in the land of Carolus |
| Likewise maids of merry matches // master men
of other Kingdoms |
| Thus the House of Edward rises // reigns of
glory all to flourish |
|
|
| Bright in battle brings the bearer // beater of
a thousand foe-men |
| Leader of the Saxon shield-men // Strong
AEthelstan, stalwart Sovereign |
| Wielder of the rood-proofed iron // in the
sword of Ancient Emperor |
| Bearer
of the Lord’s lost lance-point // Longinus’ spear the bane of
dark-foes |
|
| Harken eorls and ceorls
// and thegn-men listen |
| Song of life now sung // and spoken, broken |
| On the roads of dreaming // dark upon |
| The minds of all those // thegns who fear him |
| AEdwardus hic fecit |
|
10/6/06
|
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Top |
|
| A
Song of Sable Spear |
| Hwaet! |
|
|
| Western waypost // watched, unwaver’ng |
| Gate-ward gazing // grim, yet gentle |
| Stands the sentinel // solemn death-foe |
| Long his word-fame // Fribrand Darkspear |
|
|
| Friend of John // the dread Bear-Slayer |
| Stands he ‘fore // the horned crescent |
| Cup of silver
// emptied earthward |
| Bound about
//with chains of golden |
|
|
| Tight the golden // cord of binding |
| Strong the anvil // angled inward |
| Darkling small-foe // seeks the great-heart |
| Now Lee Fribrand // stands to battle |
|
| Darkened daggers // thrust through entrails |
| Lee the warrior // rages wrothly |
| Stern of visage // dread King’s Champion |
| Brings to bear // his burning spearpoint |
|
|
| Now before the gates // of glory stands he |
| Pounds upon the
// iron-shod portals |
| Forces full the
// doors of ‘Salem |
| First to enter, // Cross triumphant |
|
| War-work finished // Ram Combattant |
| Stands at rest // resolved to fate |
| Death-denial // done at day’s-end |
| Final battle // bought with life-price |
|
| Western waypost // watched, unwaver’ng |
| Gate-ward gazing // grim, yet gentle |
| Stands the sentinel // solemn death-foe |
| Long his word-fame // Fribrand Darkspear |
| AEdward gearwian |
| 10/6/06 |
|
Top |
|
|
| A
Song for Francois |
| A
Léoð Galleas |
|
| Gone our Prince // Silent the
mead-hall, |
| Gan ūre
landfruma // ástillian meðesele, |
| Still the darkness // Still the people. |
|
Āstillian niht // ástillian léode. |
| Dark Sword-wielder // Stood amongst you. |
|
Sweart guðsweord wealdere // Āstōd mid ðé. |
| Strong and quick-he // Sure and steady. |
| Cāf a lāoht
hé //Langtwidig ānmōdnes. |
| Stone of strength // Honor-bearer, |
|
Carr a cræft //Ārfaest-healdere, |
| Still (yet) our Leader // Stands he-ever, |
|
Géa ūre laedere // Āstandeð hé æfre |
| Stern (mighty) way-holder // Who will follow? |
|
Cræft weg-geæfnere // hwa sceolde æfterfolgian? |
| Sing his name // Shout his word-fame, |
| Āwrecan sín
nama // Gylian sín lāstword, |
| Raise your voices // Raise your flagons, |
|
Úp ābregdan éower héafodwōðe // Úp ābregdan éower
cuppe, |
| Galleas Stronghand // Lives forever! |
| Galleas cræfthand
// Aélíf æefre tō alder! |
| Galleas Strongheart // Lives forever! |
| Galleas cræftheorte
// Aélif æfre tō alder! |
| Ædward gearwian |
| 6/22/05 |
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| All poems reprinted with permission of the
author. For more information, contact me. |
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