sing, oh heroes
all you here
around this pyre.

sing now,
shivering glorious
sea drunk and battle hardened from these years
     these strange flowing years
     that have not killed us.

sing yes,
though we will die
we are not dead.
the years and the sea have not yet collected us
though we venture in them
     plunging into the dark waves
     with eels and dragons
     with strange suns and waning moon
     with the bite of cold
     signalling to us with deep knowing way.
     sing.

this pyre before us
is not today for us.
it burns solstice time.
it bathes us in ash of a once mighty tree.
     a ghost joining our wild spirit
     living on in the clear eyes
     and sinews
     and strengths
     gathered here now.
we receive.

so breathe
     wade into the cold
     away from home and the known.
breathe
     the allway invitation of the ocean
breathe
     new shores and new ways
breathe
     a new light in a new time.
receive now here.

touch your hand to the ground
     you will know.
spread your toes in the sand,
     you will hear.
and feel the flame of this dawn fire
     so you will burn.

sing yes
with all breath
sing yes.

12/12/21 - for the Vikings