Sailors of seas, they are Danes that hugs seas as pretty-dames
With faith in ship, “Big-fish” that crushes to powder kames
They are talons like flames driving hordes to for guts ail
Users of axes that cause wails, suckers of mead and ale
Swivers of maids with name, raiders of lands others wish

With dawn still green and dim, entering from raid men rot
In lust for share of plunder, plunder many as stars
That gilded Abraham’s sky, men first need heave heft big-fish
But hands for task were shy, pants grew into deep breaths
Sweat waltzed with sweats, their toil was a strive with wind

Hands are needed Captain works with lips
In shadow of growls vocals are faint as
Sleep on thorny bed
Captain grabs rod in wet, rod nips the flesh
Salt in tears, sweat sip into mouths
Danes beg mercy of whips
God made Norsemen, captain’s whip made slaves

Minutes grew into hours, hours before dusk now faint
Sun slowly sunk at the west strength slowly turned sour
Lust for plunder still roar, captain’s voice turns hoar
His hands from whipping worn
Amid soggy soil so dour Vikings are lour as men in deserts
Hope slowly away pours

They say “darkest is night if afore dawn, hours are mite”
Lo horse rider draws nigh with bells ringing in joy
Singing “Glory! Glory! Hail! Hail! ‘Of men Light’”
All knees lick earth, a rite for The Captain of captains
Captain of captain’s voice pierces “What’s thy plight?”
His voice like the roar of a king among his wights
The vinegar is given him, his face returns a smile
“Why not add might?” king asks “Am Captain” says captain
“Why not lend a ‘widows mite’?” Captain of captain asked
Ere he joins heavers as captain falls in awe of sight
Captain’s mind lost all her right

Work with the most royal dight, tired men find light
At regal fight Big-fish is willing
Then ‘King of captains’ yells
“Help or remain captain which does well?”
“Ah! Pride makes ‘reason’ a blind man” cries captain
As to moor his feet dash light

(c) Eterigho Oghenekome Humphrey.

First published by Nthanda Review.

Picture courtesy alamy.com.