Onward! Forward!

The sky is snowing knives tonight.
And ravens don their mail.
Brazen throated trumpets sound.
And Fenrir strains his chains.
And searing wound on godarm burns.
Tyr remembers well old hurts.

A night of wounds and shattered shields.
And strong halls thrown down in ruin.
Of splintered spear and sword unhanded.
Warrior's arm grows weary.
Warrior's spirit is at the brink.

Horn has sounded.
Norn has sung.
No avoiding the blows to land.
The Wolf's Chain breaks.
And sun is slain.
Sundered is the hero's brand.

Gods and men alike destroyed.
No effort born is born alive.
Victory is wyrd-undone.
Long bespoke and wrought against,
Loki's gambit feel we now. 

But hoist your axe full high and shout.
Charge you now into the fray. Wolf's fang. Flame's stroke. Frost's grip.
Fear is the only enemy we might best today.
"Onward! Forward!" crying we, "Battle! Fire! Grant us death!"

 

(Oct 1, 2007).