.
.
I stand proud
at the helm
of a dragon headed
Viking longship.
Salt spray lashes my face.
Canvas billows and flaps
with buffeting winds.
To appease Aegir,
god of the sea,
I have offered sacrifices.
He will protect me
on my voyage
through his realm.
Thor’s chariot,
drawn by a pair of goats,
rumbles thunder
across clouded skies,
as he wages war
against the Giants.
I love the sea,
but I’ll be glad
to get home to my wife.
She’s a warrior, healer,
teller and keeper of tales —
our heritage.
.
Image: http://transpressnz.blogspot.ca/2011/08/viking-longships.html
Dennis Cardiff 
i love this
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Thanks so much for your kind words. I look forward to your book being published. I would love to read it. ~ Dennis
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We you a viking? I was a viking and my sisters were vikings…..
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Hi Sindy, my grandparents emigrated from Iceland to Canada in 1900, so that makes me a viking. I am very proud of my heritage and learn as much about it as I can. Blessings ~ Dennis
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Mine was past life, not heritage. 😉
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Love seeing this ancient vessel and hearing your words about this trip. Feels very real to me. And how cool to know that viking women were good with swords! I guess they were forces to be reckoned with.
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“A shieldmaiden was a woman who had chosen to fight as a warrior in Scandinavian folklore and mythology.” (Wikipedia) As with all mythology, there is debate about how prevalent this was; but there is archaeological proof that they existed. It seems logical to me. ~ Dennis
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Your Words marry well with the image Dennis… and always bring to life a story through your words.. Thank you, I hope you are well? and enjoy the rest of your Sunday and a brand new week.
Blessings Sue xox
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Thank you, as always, Sue, for your kind words. Thank you also for your post “The Turning Point”. I watched the video and ordered, The Turning Point Creating Resilience in a Time of Extremes by Gregg Braden. I look forward to reading it. Blessings Dennis xox
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Oooh! Good…. you will enjoy I think.. 🙂 And you are most welcome Dennis… xoxox
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LOVE this, especially the ending. This poem seems to me to depict a dominant man and his appropriate partner. Maybe that’s just reader response, but it like it.
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The Vikings were adventurous, and open minded. Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became Iceland’s first female Prime Minister and the world’s first openly lesbian head of government on 1 February 2009. ~ Dennis
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Lovely, Dennis! Always such a pleasure to read your words!! Big hugs, Cher xo
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Thanks so much, Cher. I was delighted to read your post “SOOTHING SUNDAY – MY ORCHID FRIEND”. Congratulations, on your orchid coming into bloom. Big hugs, Dennis xo
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Awh, bless! Thank you, Dennis. Purple is my favorite color, and to see it magnificently adorning this incredible orchid truly makes my heart sing! With big hugs back to you, dear Dennis! Cher xo
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Well done, for any traveling warrior or business person away from his loved ones.
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Thanks, as always, for your kind words. I enjoyed your post “Countdown – Too many people to sustain long term”. Zero population growth is what we should aspire to. ~ Dennis
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Thanks. Maybe you could do a poem to reiterate. I like the Z-Pop slogan your bio teacher used.
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A fine poem. I enjoyed reading it.
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Hi Annina, thanks for your kind words. I enjoyed reading and viewing “The Faithful Fox: A Fairy Tale”. ~ Dennis
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She’s fighter teller and keeper….. that I get it brilliantly done
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I am honored and humbled by your words of praise. Viking women had to be skilled with swords, especially when their men were away at sea. I love the image of a woman wielding a sword, to protect her family. The Vikings also had a rich tradition of oral history, long before they learned to write. ~ Dennis
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Love the imagery here, Dennis…some we can actually feel “Salt spray lashes my face.” 😀
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Hi Oliana, thanks as always for your kind words. The imagery is from a dream I had, but I can’t help thinking it is from a past life. 🙂 Dennis
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It probably was! what an interesting dream!
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Dennis, you are very skilled writer, I really love you, but Vikings… come on, pirates really..;). Greetings from Scandinavia (land of the Vikings)
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My grandparents came from Iceland to Canada in 1900. My mother told me many stories of the Vikings. She said they really weren’t pirates, but I learned the truth later. I love your poem “It’s the end of March”.
~ Dennis
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Well, there you go: it’s the Icelandic tellings that’s your proud heritage. You may like this two links
http://nordicwomensliterature.net/article/what-woman-speaks
http://sagadb.org/
Thanks for kind words about my poem.
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Thank yo so much for the links. I intend to write about some of the great women in Iceland and their place in history. I have read many Icelandic stories where a woman was the main character, who outsmarted and outfought her male rivals. These sites look fabulous. ~ Dennis
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Nice. Skye has right. Good work ! 🙂
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Thanks for your kind words. I enjoyed your post “Place where I live”. It is very beautiful. I would love to travel there. ~ Dennis
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Your blog is one big place with beautiful lines of words and thank you. By the way, you can anytime arrive. There are so wonderful places but you know all around the world are, everywhere we like it. 🙂 I am looking forward to your next post. Have a nice day !
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Wonderful imagery, Dennis. Well done, as always!!
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As always, Skye, it’s wonderful to read your words. I love your poem and photograph “Sunday Poetry: Springtime’s Glory”. It is both inspiring and comforting. ~ Dennis
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Thank you, Dear Friend. You are a great blessing to me today and whenever we meet!
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