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I take pride
n being able to present to ou
a poem from one of our number, Venator, who wrote the below poem as a
tribute to those who ply unknown seas. It is out of our
period, but because the author is a Nova
Roman, I thought the inclusion of this
excellent piece of work was suitable.
Respectfully Submitted;
Marcus Audens
Salvete Omnes,
As there
is a US national holiday today to honor one man who (with the help of
many) "discovered" theAmericas; thought I'd present another
view.
I wrote this
poem to commerate the voyage
of Leif the Lucky Ericksson.
It also springs
from the feelings I have for this land upon which my forebears first set
foot long ago.
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To
Vinland
Early Fall in the
1001st year of Vinland
Reckoning
Foamy necked
waves
break oer the shoal
Racing to wash,
granite toothed beach
Greenish sea moss,
garlands the rocks
Dark, wet and grey,
set in the sand
The land
ever waits,
patient and hard
Always unchanged,
uncaring, still
Beckoning those, who
hear the call
Find me, find me, I
lie in wait
Oaken sea
steed,
dances in mist
Crossing whale way,
gull road taken
Into sunset, onward to
West
Driven to prove, tales
of new land
Ship's crew
sings out,
words to the sky
Odin, Ægir, Thor speed
our way
Trust in the Gods, and
strength of back
Steersman holds board,
sets a true course
Long are
the nights,
longer the days
Grey backed swells,
endlessly same
Evening stars bright,
lead ever on
Darkened sky sheep,
cloud gift fills kegs
Noise comes
to ear,
watcher hears roar
Breakers tumbling,
whispering birds
Fading mist lifts,
sight to behold
Lowslung land dark,
oertopped with green
Beyond the
beach,
river's mouth gapes
Calling the crew,
travel this way
Longship slips in,
trout home to wend
Pull to the bank,
landsmen again
Uneasy heads,
fitfully
rest
Dreaming a dream,
unproven land
Unproven folk,
unproven wealth
Unproven Gods,
unproven Fate
Wake to the
dawn, Sun
smiling warm
Heavy branched trees,
round fragrant lea
Firs like at home, and
grasses too
Eagle's shrill cry,
splits morning calm
Sights to
behold,
richness of beasts
Branch antlered stag,
bushy tailed squirrel
Trees of strange hue,
flowers not known
Wild grapes found,
Vinland is named
Old crewman
dies, tree
falls awry
Grave hole is dug,
then mound is raised
Kin bones in earth,
strange place no more
Witnessed by death,
Land Bond is made
Timber and
fur, fruit,
fish, and drink
Ship is laden, cargo
for home
East points the prow,
foam trail behind
Trackless travel,
wooden hull glides
Tales of
new land,
rumor no more
Place now to go,
homesteads to build
Wealth to be had,
cargoes to gain
Hofs to hallow,
children to bear
Long the
years pass,
many ships sail
From many lands, head
to the West
Making a Home for Kin
and Kith
Seeking ever frontiers
to tread
Foamy necked
waves
break oer the shoal
Racing to wash,
granite toothed beach
Greenish sea moss,
garlands the rocks
Dark, wet and grey,
set in the sand
The land
ever waits,
patient and hard
Always unchanged,
uncaring, still
Beckoning those, who
hear the call
Find me, find me, I
lie in wait
valete -
Venii
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