The Kalevala

A brief paean to a literary masterpiece.

We threw the side-axe into Death’s throat.

Over the side of the sea

We blew our oars. Our sails

Became wind-fat, eager to reach

A paunchy Northland.

 

Some men held fast their pikes against

Death’s arm, its breath.

They pushed its breath back with their loyalty.

Steady old ship Captain

Knew the copper sea better than Death;

He traced its gullies with our prow

And hammered it with a compass.

 

Now, roar over the sides!

Stupidly put together Death

Breathes it moulds over the gunwale!

The ship is a broken piston,

But still the lads batter at the

Marauder with their wills!

Steady old tree-beard raps us on.

Sword high, beard high, he eggs us on

To evict brassy Death!

 

Now the taloned One breathes over the side.

Suddenly we remember the milk-bed,

The braided one, the warm cow byre,

The kindness in breath, the dog-hearth,

A home hanging from a thread of smoke.

As the taloned One scours us we pray uphill:

‘Bright lid of the Sampo crack open!

Swallow unforged Death with a crack of song!’

 

And then bright beard he throws up his myths,

And he is again Captain of his sword,

And he brings navigation crashing

Down on Death’s neck.

And we throw back our verses and laugh!

(C) N J Green

Reviews

[emmajoy]

'Now the taloned One breathes over the side. ~ Suddenly we remember the milk-bed, ~ The braided one, the warm cow byre, ~ ' The kindness in breath, the dog-hearth, ~ A home hanging from a thread of smoke.'

Such a courageous flow of words - battle cries, scars, clashes and all; language ripe, history told. Meter roaring, with perhaps, specific intention. Final line.. a winner!

[Nicholas Green]

Thank you, emmajoy It means a lot.