20171031.0430

As each from the dirt sought to rise,
Erdewyn caught that one's eyes,
And hers showed quite cold
Amid her manner bold--
Something that was no surprise.

20171030.0430

She opened the door and them faced
Who thought to put her in her place,
But she, in a trice,
With grip like a vise,
Grabbed each, and each one threw far-spaced.

20171029.0430

So some gathered into a group
And sought to sons' honor recoup.
In anger, they raged
And thought the girl caged
When they arrayed them on her stoop.

20171028.0430

But some of the parents thought she
Had overreacted in glee,
As boys would be boys
And play with their toys.
To rebuke her, then, they would go see.

20171027.0430

When the youths went to their homes,
Aching in muscles and bones,
Some families chided
Them and they sided
With the girl whose fists fell like thrown stones.

20171026.0430

But Erdewyn, with foot and fist,
Sung swiftly, and she did not miss,
And where each blow landed,
The staves were unhanded.
On her, none e'er forced e'en a kiss.

20171025.0430

They thought their way with her to have;
They thought to force her with their staves.
They came on as one
And thought to have fun
With her when she at them had laughed.

20171024.0430

She had in the town had no need
For violence, for all did still heed
The lesson she taught
When, in youth, she had fought
Some who'd her to folly lead.

20171023.0430

But Erdewyn kept well her calm,
Her hand showed oft an open palm
Instead of the fist
That, swung, seldom missed,
And sent where it struck for sweet balm.

2017102.0430

Each of her motions would show
That she the man's lessons did know,
And none would approach
Either with reproach,
Lest they would from health swiftly go.

20171021.0430

To speak of her form is not meet,
But, rather, how she placed her feet
Or moved with each hand
Whenever she'd stand
Or crouched, or ran, or took a seat.

20171020.0430

Erdewyn grew in his care,
And the folk 'round grew aware
Of how she had changed
Since she had first ranged
Into their town with her blank stare.

20171019.0430

Where Oðoæster himself learned
To read, where he that high skill earned
Was, to all, unclear--
But many a year
Had passed before he had returned.

20171018.0430

A double against yesterday

Erdewyn, he clothed and he fed,
Gave her a roof and a bed,
Taught her in ways
To assure her days
Were long and would see her well sped.

To read and to write she was taught
By him who was known to have fought
In pitched battles many,
And, once again, the
Reasons he did so pass thought.

20171016.0430

Of why he would do such a thing,
The scribes write not, nor singers sing,
And many would guess
In ways not rehearsed best--
Save that she to him would joy bring.

20171015.0430

But when the girl came, people say,
Oðoæster was away,
And when he returned,
He never her spurned,
But took her in on that same day.

20171014.0430

The village-folk to her were kind
When any would pay any mind,
But they had their own,
And most were not grown,
So the girl'd but little find.

20171013.0430

The young one, Erdewyn, had come
To teacher and village far from
Where she had been born;
She arrived forlorn,
Walking alone, sucking thumb.

20171012.0430

But of the deeds he has avowed,
That of which he swore himself proud
To greatest degree
Was his service to she
Whom he to him study allowed.

20171011.0430

So began the great renown
He had ere he came to the town.
Many a singer regales
Many hearers with tales
Of Oðoæster's travels 'round.

20171010.0430

Oðoæster the troops all dispersed
Who lived and who fared not the worst;
He helped dig the graves
Of those he'd not saved,
Though in that task, he was not first.

20171009.0430

In accord with the day

I know that I am given this day
Not to work, but instead to play
Or spend as I will, so I say
That the name of it should go away.

The stated name, I'll not repeat;
To heap praise on one is not meet
Who through rapine gave defeat
To those who did not him with war greet.

To rest and respite give is good,
But those who have such leisure should
Seek to mend what wrongs they could
If they of gifts be worthy would.

20171008.0430

He threats to his people addressed
By stabbing the one through the breast
Who had said them dead
Unless he was led;
Now none would such things suggest.

20171007.0430

As what was promised was done,
Oðoæster went as he'd begun,
Returned to the tent
Of those who had sent
Him into the field with the sun.

20171006.0430

To him, Oðoæster said,
If he valued his life and his head,
He would swiftly tender
His total surrender.
The leader did as the man said.

20171005.0430

One of the foes thought to yield,
To concede the whole battlefield,
That one who stood last
Thought to put things past,
That matter sending men home on shields.

20171004.0430

For each of the ones who took flight,
Oðoæster sent two into night
To join those who fell
In that dreadful knell
Of ringing of blades shining bright.

20171003.0430

The mighty who one nation led
Thought they might themselves be the fled,
But most of them fell--
Their names none now tell
For the shame that stands on each one's head.

20171002.0430

Now, with none to stand in his way,
The warrior began a melee,
Laying all about
And putting to rout
The lucky who escaped the fray.

20171001.1615

That certain guard rushed straight ahead,
Though he knew that he would fall dead.
Oðoæster disarmed him--
Defeated, not harmed him--
And passed on, a figure of dread.