Shield Maiden

belly up is not a fighting stance....

Shield Maiden

 

Though wounded and now lame  

She survives to ride o’er

Despondent plains still laughing

Coughing blood

 

Picking bones and fairly

Cracking seeds and scavenging

From pools and dew pits smiling

She is weary

 

While old redundant hedgerows

Thorn thick and bleeding serve

To nourish and defend her proudly

The night approaches

 

Then when she sleeps

She sleeps a fitful sleep beneath

Her shield and pon crowded graves

Still heaving

 

The graves of those she loved

And those once slayed in

Woodland and on battlefields

Still blazing

 

Yet forced to wander cold

Tho free from

Longhouse abandoned chains

She rides calmly

 

A feral child as was yet ne’er

A feral bride shall ever be

The tarot card and rune stones

Both decree it

 

 

Author's Note

Hex marks the spot...

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Hex, what's that? A sort of death curse. I had images of a warrior queen here Neville left for eternity on the battle fields. Really atmospheric, loved the detail. Tarot cards and runes have decreed it. I am wondering what influenced these lines, quite different from you. Have you been watching TV?

Chris

[Neville]

Thanx our Chris.. get owt of here, you know wot a hex is don'tcha... Nah no TV but not tellin coz I'm sworn to sorcery...

[Chris Shaw]

All that sorcery, tarot cards and runes. You've cursed yourself, that's why you can't sleep :) Tell ya wot Neville, talking to you has made me sleepy. You've got magic powers. I'll catch ya later:)

[Neville]

okey dokey..

[A.E. Surdam]

I imagined a woman who survived war. She escaped and is attempting to survive. Wounded, she remembers those she had lost. Since she is maimed, she has little luck at being a bride. I want to place her in the far, far past. Great job!

[Neville]

an interesting take to be sure.. many thanks indeed for stopping by, very much appreciated.. Neville

[lightsong]

why I'm thinking of a soul flying and grieving over her homeland and her people, tears fell over the images of the memories, memories of the hard works she did once for years, now she is crying over her wounded land and the dead people, the war that is still going... You had a bit of rap rhythm in Your words here.

[Neville]

You are pretty much spot on, well done and thanks... Rap eh' please dont tell the kids.... N

[lightsong]

hhhhaaa I have no kids so don't ever worry ;)

[Neville]

Okay but I do, don't tell mine...

[lightsong]

hhhaaaa I will NOT ;)

[Neville]

....... :)

[Ana Papaya]

Reads like a fine bit of folk lore.

[Neville]

There's nowt as strange as folk, as me ma often say's... bless ya Ana and always welcome... N

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

So now you know my name....this may be my favorite by far Nev. .....contoured!

[Neville]

my pleasure..take it and burn it, or whatever..

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

This warrior Queen will squirrel it away under the vest...best place to keep things of meaning

[Neville]

as you so wish..