FOR THE SKALD


1


so woke from the dream of
galdr charm     gala sing
young and alone on a long road
and the sleeper seldom the victor
I-forget the heron hovers
men must speak of what men do
flame quickens flame
what happens cannot be hidden
the Arch-Bowman graces
Eye of Archer     Weight of Arrow
across Song's Steelyard
Reacher of the Song     Reacher of the Flame


2


awake early                       wove words
heaped high                       cairns of praise
made                              leaf with speech
across song's fields              not soon to fall







© 1976 by Kenneth Irby
from Archipelago (Tuumba Press)