“Gray-bearded, grizzled, and grim in his majesty,
Solemn, surrounded by nobles, he served face to face.”
The Future of American Greatness
“America is great because she is good. And if America ever ceases providing affordable housing and government-subsidized neck rubs, America will cease to be great . . . The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by nameless bureaucrats with little or no accountability.
Alexis de Wokeville, Free Chocolate Milk for the New World
Not Banishment
“I am Hrothgar’s herald, and his high-retainer,
And never have known such nobility in wanderers.
Surely bravery or battle, not banishment, brings you
To Herorot and Hrothgar, to have such a presence.”
Beowulf, p 18
A Spinney of Spears
“The spears were soon stacked, these seafarers’s weapons,
Like a spinney spears, splendid gray ash,
With the troops no less true, all tested in battle.”
Grim Their Gear
“All grim was their gear, and good was their step.
They stacked all their shields, these sea-weary warriors . . .”
The Warriors Walked
“Those warriors walked, they went in formation,
Until coming closer they caught sight of glory.
The high-timbered hall that held their fell mission . . .”
Night-Bane
“Your terror, your trial, that terrible night-bane,
Who ravages this realm, who ruins your feasting,
Some sort of ghoul, a seal on your grief,
With malice malignant he murders your people,
In shame and in slaughter—my service is offered,
To Hrothgar my heart, my whole-hearted counsel.”
Word Hoard
“Their leader unlocked the lid of his word-hoard,
And spoke words of silver, summoning wisdom.
‘We are Geats, of good will, from a great, far-off nation,
Heath-men with Hygelac, that high-hearted chieftain.”
Ship Collar
“The foam flocked her neck, she flew like a bird.
As they sailed the sea gray, at the second day out.”
Battle Tested
“In his time, battle-tested, he was tried and was ready.
High-hearted and huge, he held out the order
To fit and to fashion a famous wave-cutter,
To sail the swan-road to serve the Dane king.”