Saga of the North: Names of the Northern Heroes -

Names of the Northern Heroes

Listen to the names of the heroes
Who stepped from island to island,
Pausing awhile under the outstretched smoke of Mr. Hekla
To build halls, to bathe in the hot springs,
Thence leaping into the snow drifts,
Begetting, murdering, bringing landslides
Upon the farms of their enemies,
Worshipping Christ or Thor, indifferent,
Ship-chested men, massive child-bearing women,
Singers of songs of conquest, love, and discovery,
Hating for generations,
Holders of parliaments upon volcanic islands.
Too long have you been forgotten,
Gardar, and Ingolf, and Gunnbiorn,
Erik the Red, and Karlsefni.
Utter me the Saga of Erik, founder of Greenland,
Builder of snug hall at Bratthild,
Plier in shield-hung ship to Blacksark,
Where ice pinnacles glitter under the borealis,
Silver foxes bark among the moon-wraithed cliffs,
White bears ride the sailing icebergs,
And cub-seals tumble in the rookeries.
Son of Erik, bringer of Christ to the northland,
Lover of witches and battles,
Tell of your salt-crusted oarsman,
Blundering on skerries to westward,
Tell us of Vinland the Good.