Always fear the day,
your faith betrayed,
tumbling beneath tears
like crumbling clay,
taken from skies above,
trampled under soldiers boot,
with cross held high;
subjugate or die.
This is no Ragnarok,
just a quiet defeat,
where now, the bolts of Thor,
waging Odin’s war
against faithless King?
Olaf, slayer of subjects,
swept aside tradition
for a One-man God.
Do you lie now here
sleeping in ancient ice,
awaiting a future glory,
when fearful men fall
burning in payment?
The fiercest retribution
for the callous murder,
of the people of The Old Ways.
Author notes
Picture Prompt: http://aphostol.deviantart.com/art/Forgotten-gods-76109574
Something about the picture sparked thought of the Norse gods and how the belief in the old ways was surplanted by Christianity, particularly in Norway, very brutally, by King Olaf in particular.
A contest entry
- 1 Spoof 2 Pic Prompts 3 Word Banks 4 Phrase Prompts by lunarlunacy.
1017 points, ended November 16, 2008, 7 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Mysteries of the Norse by FaeRae.
1000 points, ended April 10, 2009, 8 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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I like very much your telling of Olaf- whom I've heard practiced the old ways still after the slaughter and that the conversion to christianity was for econmic reasons. A bastard indeed, if you forgive my french. Well written, poet. I loved the mention of Ragnarok,not as the war to end all wars, but a silent slaying. The inhumanity must have been great, indeed.
Rae
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Many thanks.
Wasn't aware of that aspect of Olaf, it wouldn't surprise me, it seems in character from what I know.
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Wow spectacular and it'd make a stunning viking metal song. I can't almost hear the drums. Your use of language is quite extraordinarily good!
Peace Georgia
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Tah muchlie. Never thought of it as a viking metal song lol
(sorry for the delay in comment)
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ok you got brownie points just for the Norse context. May your drinkin horn always be full, and your bed ne'r empty.
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Many thanks.
I'll need to borrow the missus's drinking horn and fill it...preferably with mead or ale.
Come to think of it...haven't had mead in ages.
(sorry for the delay in comment)
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