Yggdrasil

 

The poet sat in the garden house

Under a hawthorn tree,

And stared at the men in helmets who

Had just come up from the sea.

 

He gathered his words about him

Like a shield in the Land of Rhyme,

The 'glow in the red-raw evening sky'

He left for another time.

 

He watched as they burned his orchard,

Put his imagery to the sword,

Then wandered back to their surly ships

In the Bay of Bleak Discord.

 

The heron sat in the estuary,

The raven sat on the shore,

The poet threw up a stanza there

That ends with - 'Nevermore!'

 

For Death had called in the morning

Left his calling card on the tray:

'I'd be obliged if you'd meet with me

At noon, on Saturday!'

 

He packed his verse in a travelling case

And told his wife 'Goodbye!'

Then sent his 'Helen of Troy' poste haste

To hide on the Isle of Skye.

 

He went to the tree Yggdrasil, sat

And waited for Death to chat,

But Death left a message to follow him;

'I'll get my coat and hat!'

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Mark]

Unless I miss my guess, this poem is a paean to poets and writers past who died untimely. I think I see references to Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allen Poe, Byron and Yeats, though I've probably missed some. A masterful work, David, encouraging we who are unpublished to publish, if being remembered is any part of our gameplan.
Wasn't Yggdrasil featured in the Lord Of The Rings saga, one of the two trees planted by the elves of yore?

[David Scott]

There is so much hidden in here. Clever write! I am humbled to read this. Simple enough for a child to enjoy with layers to peel off bit by bit if one is inclined. This is your true genius. You fake simple! Ha

[R J Askew]

Ach, back to the roots of all we must go, poets and the men in helmets. I imagine many a monk felt a bit like this when the vikings came a-looking for this n that.

[Jola]

Death takes all the good in people but in our hearts is the memory of those who leave a beautiful poem ... thank!!!!

[Lena M. P.]

Great imagery and play on fallen poets of yore. I loved the thought that poets are poets even in death. That they would follow it gladly to be able to experience it and wrote the ultimate final verse. Great write and dedication.

[Ferg]

Great flow to this piece. It wasn't as "odd" as you thought it might turn out. I really enjoyed it. I like the image of the sitting by the tree waiting for death to come and chat. Nicely done as always..even "under the influence" :)

[Valentine]

Another amazing tale..How you can remember so much from your yesterdays is amazing to me..I hope you are feeling much better and that your rib is not broken..God bless..Kathie

[E. A. Fielder]

I think this is my favorite out of the ones that I have read so far! "Nevermore" reminds me of E.A. Poe... the second stanza is was really drew me into the story.