the gates of stavanger

the gates of stavanger




who is the man,
come from
sea foam's grave...



what is this stavanger
this place
a lapse in time?


who is left here to defend?
to honor
brazened sword?
i have
heart enough for many a warrior
to embrace in blood
and mead and war.


what cross is this
upon lentil door of pine?
where are the oaks
of dark wood,
ingrained with brother's blood?
how many brave men
have died here
and now cold streets where once
was mud.


i call you out
from pew and pulpit pit!
from
linen shielded light.
i call you out!
before my judgment seat,
take heed
of vikings might!


o warrior of woods,
come men by fjords blue light!
we take
stavanger back to us
by odin's sword tonight!
reclaim the pride of our dead king
who brought this
son of light.
to placate weakness
mute the souls of us
long bred to fight.


i have reached the gates of stavanger
from depths beyond far seas.
through mountains pass
on fjords divined
i rode on windblown steed.
to shake the backbone of the world,
bring noregr back to me!
i stand before you
stavanger
with sword in hand
take heed!






© sjw 08/22/09 inspired at this very moment in time by shotgun beth.





from the ‘battle series’ of poems




Stephen