Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE VIKING, by CLARIBEL WEEKS AVERY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE VIKING, by                    
First Line: O sister, flokar's ship is in!
Last Line: Until he feels her arms again.
Subject(s): Sailing & Sailors; Sea; Ships & Shipping; Vikings; Seamen; Sails; Ocean


O sister, Flokar's ship is in!
Keep close and tend the fire,
Or, when you have to go outside,
Put off your gems and robes of pride
And walk in mean attire.
Vain are the fragile webs you spin
So hard a heart as his to win.

His banner flaunts the raven sign;
His deck is red from slaughter;
His single sail is black as pitch;
His ship is like an angry witch
That haunts the North Sea Water.
His men are wild with lust and wine;
Like hungry wolves they prowl and whine.

Why dream you of his young renown,
His lineage, proud and olden?
No wife will share his pirate hoard
Or lay her lips against his sword
Or comb his tresses golden.
He sails in hope that he may drown
Where once his earlier ship went down.

He lost his dearest treasures then.
Beneath the ireful billow,
The phantom of a blue-eyed girl
Has decked her couch with kelp and pearl
And sings the song of willow.
Foe will he be to gods and men
Until he feels her arms again.





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