A Poem For Today - Excerpt from Beowulf

[KEN DICKINSON]

Excerpt From Beowulf

So. The Spear-Danes in days gone by 
and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. 
We have heard of those princes' heroic campaigns. 

There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes, 
a wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes. 
This terror of the hall-troops had come far. 
A foundling to start with, he would flourish later on 
as his powers waxed and his worth was proved,
In the end each clan on the outlying coasts 
beyond the whale-road had to yield to him 
and begin to pay tribute. That was one good king. 


Afterwards a boy-child was born to Shield, 
a cub in the yard, a comfort sent 
by God to that nation. He knew what they had tholed, 
the long times and troubles they'd come through 
without a leader; so the Lord of Life, 
the glorious Almighty, made this man renowned. 
Shield had fathered a famous son: 
Beow's name was known through the north. 
And a young prince must be prudent like that, 
giving freely while his father lives 
so that afterwards in age when fighting starts 
steadfast companions will stand by him 
and hold the line. Behaviour that's admired 
is the path to power among people everywhere. 

Seamus Heaney

Sent from my iPhone

[albert haas]

Thanks, Ken. What a great reminder (especially these days) from whence comes true power.

Al 

On May 29, 2024, at 1:27 AM, 'KEN DICKINSON' via A Poem For Today <po...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



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