I wasn’t sure whether or not Sir Ragnar has a Viking persona, but it was a great excuse to try another Norse poem! I’m not sure what it is, exactly, that attracts me to this form; perhaps it is because these poems must be performed in order to appreciate the effect of the alliteration. These poems are perfect to memorize and share around the fire!
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Sir Ragnar of Sandcastle
fallen in Fall Crown Tourney, A.S. XLV
(alliterative verse)
Spear-trees stood // set and strong
as friend and foe // fringed tourney field.
Desert dwellers // adorned hill and dale
while sky-beast waited // wanting battle-waste.
Castle-knight called // by kingdom-cry
for first fight // on fire-field.
Braving burn // and Mongol-brave
Ragnar rose // to reduce rampant beast.
No yearnings met // for young yale yet.
Fire-face watched // as warrior-steed
lessened the strength // of scorpion’s sting.
But, in a blink // this brave knight brought
his fettered foe // to eagle’s feast.
Now, brother-knight // would name the beast.
Death-defiers // dazed by dragon-eye
yet boasting brave // with blistered burn.
Sand-dweller stands // his fortress strong
and lash returned // from Lady-love.
Beaten-knight stands // and bests the beast.
But, for Thaleia // three lashes more
and boar stands alone // beneath boasting beast,
Desert-dwellers // declined the throne
carry their comrade // to castle-keep.
— THL Beathog nic Dhonnchaidh
. . . is a 14th century bard who can often be seen traveling far from her home in the Highlands with her lord husband and muse. If a good tale crosses her path, she will sing a song about it, pull out its hair and spin it, or throw it in a pot and cook it up.