The Viking

Carson · [Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:27 pm]

Evening Ron,

I liked this. A very redemptive picture of a viking. To be honest, I quite like the idea of the vikings. I know they plundered and pillaged Ireland constantly etc. but still, I like the whole Norse thing. I was in Finland a few years ago (albeit not quite the real Scandanavia).

There's a wee tale in this too. Liked the inclusion of Stavanger. This reminded me of Heorot and Beowulf, other Norse Mythology. Sorry, this review is kind of off topic with the essence of the poem really. It was vivid though, got me thinking.

Tim

The reviewer would appreciate your comments on: The Implications of Autumn
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"To bore one hole after another in language, until what lurks behind it, be it something or nothing, begins to seep through. I cannot imagine a higher goal for a writer today."

Samuel Beckett

Ron · [Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:39 pm]

Tim,

I mentioned Beowulf twice today in the flash group trying to redeem the Viking reputation - the vast majority of whom Married into our heritage. Wink

Glad you know that Hero too.

Cheers, bro. Very Happy

_________________
". . . and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make." - The Beatles

Ron · [Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:47 pm]

Isn't it so sad and, yet, so poignant at the same time, that as we are talking and writing about Vikings today, Ingmar Bergman passed away yesterday. Sad

I do hope the BBC do a rerun of his classics again, as that's where I first fell in love with his Artistry.
_________________
". . . and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make." - The Beatles

Carson · [Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:49 pm]

I wouldn't mind seeing some of his films either, truth be told. Particularly that one, "the seventh seal" I think it's called? I saw a scene from it on the news yesterday.

The MC (I assume) playing chess with the personification of death. A completely random (and probably irrational and incorrect) idea took hold of me when I saw that. They aren't per chance playing chess at the end of the world are they?

Rolling Eyes

(posted in flash too Laughing

thought I'd stick it up here where I left the review though)
_________________
"To bore one hole after another in language, until what lurks behind it, be it something or nothing, begins to seep through. I cannot imagine a higher goal for a writer today."

Samuel Beckett

Ron · [Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:00 pm]

Tim,

That one of his is his most amazing one Wink

and, without giving the ending away to you, you may remember when, from Revelations John the Divine was told by the Angel to 'open the Seventh Seal and write down what you see.' When he had done that, he was ordered to 'eat his words and say nothing about it again.' He said, 'It was a bitter pill to swallow.' - that's where the saying comes from. Wink

Bergman does a rendition out of his imagination that is amazing, good buddy. Wink

_________________
". . . and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make." - The Beatles

Logicus tracticus · [Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:51 pm]

Now my favourite viking is LOKI,
chances are Ron most of your neighbours are descendants are of that stock...meet the ancestors did a dna sample and the area around Peterborough was overflowing with them.

Good flash wont carp on about St Bede writing in early 700s , making it unlucky thirteen.. Wink

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read once for meter, twice for rhythm
thrice for rhyme, then again for
leisure or measure of pleasure;
you: parasites of no consequence:
Larkin

Ron · [Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:59 am]

Yeah, B, saw that DNA survey. Interesting. I worked up in the Shetlands in '78, and on the last Tuesday in January they have Up Helly Aa - the Viking Fire Festival - in Lerwick. Home-made boats and rafts of all shapes race across Lerwick harbour, and as the sun goes down they set fire to a Viking Longboat. Big festival to celebrate Epiphany.

Yeah, the Venerable Bede. Nice of you to mention him. Lyndisfarne - bet there was fog on the Tyne then too. Wink

Thanks for dropping by, bro, and for the little Pearls of Wisdom you always leave. Wink

_________________
". . . and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make." - The Beatles

Ron · [Wed Aug 01, 2007 12:29 pm]

Lief Erikson, now there's a name to redeem the Viking reputation. Columbus, it appears you were second past the post, man. Laughing

_________________
". . . and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make." - The Beatles

maipenrai · [Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:30 pm]

very good Ron, and I loved the very very clever mention of the viking from Stavanger==the local football team is called guess what??

Viking Stavanger Very Happy

I kid you not!

good un mate
Bernie
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I know that you have suffered lad
but suffer this a while
whatever makes a soldier cry
will make a killer smile

L. Cohen

Ron · [Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:58 pm]

So . . . Viking Stavanger FC, hey? Well, that would explain a lot about the Old Trafford spirit in your city, too, mate. Laughing

Stavanger is etched on my offshore oil rig-working/building soul, Bernie. Never been to Stavanger - been to Bergen - but most of the big ones were built at Stavanger.

As always, pleasure ta see ya mush, mate. Wink

_________________
". . . and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make." - The Beatles

Ian Gould · [Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:26 pm]

I believe I am of viking stock but I have no idea how I came across the water. My fear would be that I can't swim.
Great poem to put across a different perspective. They must have been traders. Propaganda, the punks of the day.

Loki, the God of mischief! I would imagine a few on here worship him. Laughing

Good one.

Ian

"See, the men with horns approach". Very 'Carry On'. Shocked

Ron · [Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:35 pm]

Hello Ian, Very Happy

Aye, lad, would be good to know, by DNA, who actually is entitled to wear the pointy helmets. Laughing

Which must surely be another myth spread by the silver screen. Would you go into 1-to-1 close combat with handles on your helmet? Confused

Thanks, buddy, for your words Wink

_________________
". . . and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make." - The Beatles

morrigan · [Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:27 pm]

i suppose i'm troubled by the fact that they were actually called 'vikes', and viking is essentially a verb to describe certain behaviours and activities, but hell.

scanned well enough.

i wonder what the vikes would have made of the concept of 'sin'. hmmm, perhaps too many mixed cultural metaphors here? and i'm kinda interested in how rape and hero belong in the same poem. further, the raven haired thing, that has another culturally specific reference, so ...

like vikes myself, especially their stories, skadi being my favourite, and weaponry. it's a romantic age and this romantic poem befits the myth.

regs

morrigan
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The truth is scandalous. But without it, nothing has any worth. An honest and naive vision of the world is already a masterpiece ... As you approach the truth, your solitude will increase.

BrilloBob · [Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:14 am]

Well I liked this, I really did, quite a story written in a short space......but I was entertained by the reviews too..especially Morrigans one. I feel a history lesson coming on!

Ron · [Thu Aug 02, 2007 11:40 am]

Always a pleasure to hear from you, Morri Cool

Yeah, this is a 'romantic' view of the undisputed bravery of ocean-going Explorers. First to navigate the full length of the Danube. First to reach, by river and sea, Turkey to set up a Trade Route between their two nations. First, under the leadership of Lief Erikson, to reach the New World, long before Columbus and, yes, they knew all about the concept of Sin - they were converted to Christianity at least a thousand years ago. Just Googled this Article trying to verify my last fact and hit gold dust with regards to my poem. Wink

Myths and Legends persist in all cultures, and right good that is too, in my opinion, as these old Fables contain acts of great struggles against the Dark Side - victorious struggles.

We learn from everyone, history is fabulous.

Cheers, love.

Cheers

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". . . and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make." - The Beatles

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