Song of Sumey
(on the Ancient Alaskan's historic onslaught of the year ad 2008)




From Alaska careworn, bitter

From my mead-cup overflowing

Runs the tale of Ancient Sumey

Rings his hammer, wroth with gore



Of the old times now I'll whisper

Like the sword's tongue spraying slander

Mead of Odin pour like thunder

Soak this bloody prince of yore



In a town of motley minnows

From a mottled fishcamp, mightily

Rose this sea-beast, bane of serpents

Winning manful battle-score



How in shining 'mbattled Ballard

'Neath the lakeshore Magnussonar

Here, 'mid Nidhogg's nascent gnawing

Did his viscous sword-work pour



Here, beyond the sight of Ymir

'Pon his grim and mighty sea-steed

Rowed he battle-wake victorious

Manflesh dripping from his oar!



Now 'mid hardy hero's wages

Here as battle's bellow rages

Weaving craven plots, emerges

Foe, bestride the tides of war



Reeking learned condescending

Burning bold for flour of Frodi,

Crept a corrupting, aged master

Postulating foetid lore



Tell now, brimming Bodn's bounty

How that fell magician, cunning

For the want of Grani's burden

Tested hero's valour-store



Vile wizard! Bane of legend!

Bore ye challenge to that hero

For the glitt'ring seed of Kraki

Bade him strive with serpent's roar


Bearing tempest's tools, bloody

Taking stock in ancient iron

Took he straight to sea-steed's top decks

Baleful boldness flowing o'er



From those hopeful headlands, bravely

'Pon the frothing blood of Midgaard

Rode he, legend, Ancient Sumey

Bearing West toward no known shore



Now beneath a blighted village

In a noisome cavern molding

Kept that sorcerer a crypt

Upon a black and mould'ring moor



Here fell Sumey crashing, setting

Staves of Hjadningar to crushing

Grating iron gates to pieces

Thereupon the cursed moor



Beyond the wreck his visage glaring

At the solemn yonder, swearing

At a serpent cast in steel

Breathing fire there before



In that stronghold stirring boldly

Bearing forge of Ulfbert deadly

Came he calling sword's speech coldly

Placed his manful trust in Thor



'Gainst the iron dragon's gunwhale

Did the sword no deed of glory

Brake him brand and halberd both

Upon the monster's steely hoar



Now upon the hero reel'd

Flame and pestilence both, yawning

Spewing doom, a final knell

Against the weapons he foreswore



Here took he stock of nerve and sinew

Put his mortal faith in mettle

Set his hamhands crushing iron

Turning steel now to ore



Grinning baleful, wrought he ruin

'Pon that villain, took him plenty

From the purse of Sif's hair, stoutly

Sounding boastful, savage roar



And in Ballard, chanting hotly

Tell the fishermen of triumph

Weave their tales of northern heroes

Wring their knotty nets of gore



Blood of Kvasir stir my musings

Call the sound of timeworn trumpets

Bring me fell and grisly power

From thy ancient chasmal store



Grant me vengeance, slake my bloodlust

Make me grim and full of valour

In the stamp of Ancient Sumey

Of the bloody tales of yore




                            -GrixCLOCKiGar II, ad 2008