| Morguhn drapa inn Langferðamaðr | ||
| Morguhn drapa inn Langferðamaðr (Drapa for Morguhn the Long Road Walker) Fridrikr inn gamli Tomasson This is in drottkveitt with occasional lapses into hattlausa (a drottkveitt verse in which the internal rhyme scheme is not used). The poem is probably best termed a shield-poem (a poem which describes a picture that might have been painted on a shield), and is an erfidrapa (a multi-stanza poem with "stefs" or refrains interspersed, written as a memorial). It is in memory of His Grace, Morguhn Sheridan. The byname comes from the last peerage speech he made, at the time of Baroness Ekaterina Volkovna's elevation to the Pelican. He referred to the long road she had taken. I believe it fits him, as well Morguhn drapa inn Langferðamaðr (Drapa for Morguhn the Long Road Walker) Met in boldest battle Better sword not yet found Great duke merry mighty Morguhns ǫnd ofar lǫndum Saw I flame haired fighter Field stand never yielding Brash youth green clad granted Great knights swift deaths eight-fold Fought from dawn til dark fall Dragon tors'd fed corse hawks Conquered Manfred mighty Made Rowan his first queen Saw I fiercesome fighters forty seeking glory Grass clad Morguhn mighty Mowed down those who stood there Met there turquoise tyger Tribesman Randall gliding Shadows minion stalwart Stood til Morguhn slew him Laughter rang out loudly Light heart sang in bright eyes Keep his memory mighty Morguhns ǫnd ofar lǫndum Saw I Dragon's doomsman Delve lords guide to Hel's door Crossing river's rock span that roaring Calon horde kept Four great giants joined there Jarred loose rock-scarred foeman Charging woeful warriors Wedge from rock's edge threw them. Saw I Pennsic pastures Potent Gavin great king Brought his knights to kneel there Noble Morguhn summoned Round his waist the white belt Wedded spurs to high boots Chain of gold was given Green clad lord thus knighted Saw I lord of leaf'd round Longed to hear the swan's song Soaring heaven highward Hied to tourney's violence. Verdant Morguhn met there Mighty western belt-lord Ronald's head was hewn there High born Morguhn won crown. Met in boldest battle Better sword not yet found Great duke merry mighty Morguhns ǫnd ofar lǫndum Saw I realm made royal Ruled by Princes truly Leaf clad leaf lord led them Loved by clear-voiced Meirwen Four times stood he stalwart Staid by none nor laid low Fairly reigned by right hand Ring lord by his prowess Saw I oak-strong Aethling Evil's eye struck death blow Stood the berry browed lord Brave til battles ending Long road walker wanders Whither no wight follows We go to join his journey Gentle Morguhn leads us Laughter rang out loudly Light heart sang in bright eyes Keep his memory mighty Morguhns ǫnd ofar lǫndum Fridrikr inn gamli Tomasson, Pennsic War 38 (2009) |
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