Voyage of the Longship Drakken

Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.

Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches
Photo by Arina Dmitrieva on Pexels.com

In the previous posts on Sleep Paralysis and The Artesian Well, I talked about a dream of my Norse heritage and how I awoke paralyzed in this dream as a poem recited in my mind. In The Artesian Well, I introduced an old family fable about ancestor adventure in the Philippines. Now, I’d like to present the poem that was playing through my mind. This poem was a metaphor for Love and how adversity can forge unbreakable bonds through perseverance.

Voyage of the Longship Drakken

Amidst the tempest’s wrath, a longship sails, 
Its prow slicing through the frothy waves,
A vessel forged in fire and salted tears,
A metaphor for love’s enduring grace.

The Ship sails the shadowy fjord, oaken ribs entwined,
The longship emerges, a phoenix reborn,
Its dragon-headed prow defiantly raised,
As if challenging the very gods themselves.

The crew, fierce and weathered, man their stations,
Their eyes fixed on distant horizons,
Their hands calloused from years of toil,
Yet hearts aflame with unwavering devotion.

The North Sea’s roars, a primal beast unchained,
Its icy breath biting at sail and skin,
But the longship presses forward,
Its timbers groaning, yet unyielding.

Salt spray kisses the cheeks of the helmsman,
His eyes squinting against the stinging gale,
He steers with purpose, guided by the stars,
For love knows no shelter in the storm.

Love’s Beacon at the masthead, a lantern burns bright,
A beacon of hope in the darkest night,
Its flame fueled by memories shared,
By whispered promises and stolen kisses.

The longship’s crew huddles close,
Their bodies pressed together for warmth,
Heartbeats synchronized with the rhythm of the waves,
Their love a lifeline across the chasm of uncertainty.

Perseverance for days bleed into weeks, and months,
Yet the longship sails on, undeterred,
Its sails patched, its hull scarred,
But its spirit unbroken, its purpose unwavering.

Through fog-shrouded mornings and moonless nights,
They navigate the treacherous currents,
Their love a compass, their perseverance a sail,
Guiding them toward a distant shore.

Landfall embraces, as dawn’s first light kisses the horizon,
The longship glimpses land—a rugged coastline,
Its cliffs rising like ancient guardians,
Welcoming weary hearts home.

The crew rejoices, their cheers echoing across the waves,
For they’ve weathered the tempests, survived the abyss,
Their love, like the longship, unyielding,
A testament to the human spirit’s indomitable strength.

So let the winds howl and the waves rage,
For love, like a Viking longship, endures,
Navigating life’s tumultuous seas,
Guided by the stars and fueled by unwavering hearts.

In the saga of love, they are the heroes,
Their story etched upon the salt-stained planks,
A testament to the resilience of the human soul,
Sailing forever onward, toward the sun’s golden embrace.

21 responses to “Voyage of the Longship Drakken”

  1. Truly beautiful poem and words by MLK jr. Thank you Dan.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hyperion Avatar
      Hyperion

      I am truly inspired by MLK. I read his biography that focused on his accomplishments and him as a person. Very few knew how shaken he was and how hard he prayed and in the end he truly had a vision of love and unity and his fear subsided. He stepped out into the world to try to change it. I believe he was martyred for his vision of love, unity, compassion, and prosperity shared. I tried to write this poem in the old style Norse Ásutrá prose. To me it symbolized our struggles today. In the face of political and ideological tempest those that will ride out the storm are those who hold on to the covenant of love in all its forms with unshakeable bonds together. There may be days where we will be tried beyond our endurance but we must hold on.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. A beautiful thoughtful deep poem. You’re a true poet.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Hyperion Avatar
          Hyperion

          Thank you Rene! I really would like to do more poetry. They come in inspired moments. They rattle off in my head but I’m a terrible note taker. I’m too slow and I can hardly read my own writing. I think practice would help. 🤔💭

          Liked by 1 person

  2. I love that quote by MLK. This poem really resonates with me, too.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hyperion Avatar
      Hyperion

      I do truly love the quote by MLK. They are truly words to live by. You have sailed the rough seas Kymber and you are still rockin’ it. I admire your tenacity and devotion.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. A wonderful magnificent poem, my friend.

    Truly captures the feel and the atmosphere of those epic long gone days of the Viking and his longship.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hyperion Avatar
      Hyperion

      Thank you Chris. I tried to write in that old style of Viking stories. They were the best story tellers next to the Canterbury Tales.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Yes, Norse sagas are quite riveting to read.

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Hyperion Avatar
          Hyperion

          They were quite handy with an ax and knife. The original Bushcrafters.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Somewhat like Origen of Alexandria.

            Who was also handy with a knife.

            Save he was one of the original transitioners.

            Liked by 2 people

            1. Hyperion Avatar
              Hyperion

              Clearly after loosing some dangling participles he was less inclined to carouse about and instead wrote an entire library collection of theological documents.

              Liked by 2 people

  4. A beautiful poem, Dan, inspired.
    Yes, “Love”, the ultimate destination. It’s worth any harsh journey.
    Thank you for MLK’s words! They are always welcome.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hyperion Avatar
      Hyperion

      Thank you Resa, it was inspired by ancestral thoughts. Love is the greatest treasure we can have in our lives. MLK knew this and it was his dream that everyone would share in it.

      Liked by 2 people

  5. Nice my friend. I wish I could believe that Love will solve it all. I have my doubts.

    Camus in “A letter to a German friend” wrote (more or less) that the Sword will always win over the Spirit alone. (loosely translated by memory from “ze French”). But that the Spirit armed with the Sword will always vanquish, defeat the Sword alone. The German friend was an invention for the purpose of writing, but I think Camus’s point during the war was that the Spirit alone cannot win. (Therefore I don’t think Love alone can win. Or can it?)

    The question is, what sword do we pick up?

    (hmmm? I hadn’t thought about that… Something to mull about….)

    Anyway thanks for your words. We all need to find a way out to the current and future mess.

    Take care

    Brian

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hyperion Avatar
      Hyperion

      Hi Brian, I think the reality of our human nature means love will certainly not conquer all. The sword does conquer but cannot hold to the land and people it conquers because another conqueror will come. The endless cycles of our nature are only tamed by a true and genuine love for God and each other. For those who don’t accept a God, then love for each other will suffice. The impossible dream is love in all its forms to guide us as a person, family, community, and ultimately nations. If history is our measure of success then our dream should be limited to that we control and that is oneself. I might suggest the sword of righteousness. It Vanquishes the darkness in us and preserves the positive virtues of humanity. Now, where do we find one of those? 🤔

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Very true, and… just to make myself clear, I don’t reject Love as a way to… win Peace (?) It did work with Christianity. (Perhaps of the first… credos to not preach vengeance but forgiveness… but that’s another issue)
        Yes, oneself is the “accessible” territory. At least we all have the power of choice, right? (It’s what I tell my 4 yo-old granddaughter when she pulls a tantrum. I tell her she has the power of choice… And I can “see” her neurons pondering…). Yes, oneself… A fine start.
        And you do ask the “right” question: where do we find one one of those swords?
        (I have to download Camus’ Letter to a German friend. Haven’t read it in a while.) (I wonder whether there is an English translation? Probably is.
        Take care

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Hyperion Avatar
          Hyperion

          Thank you Brian. A great conversation. I do dip my toes in the well of hope once in a while, just to make sure it’s still possible. But we do have to be practical and I think your approach with your grand daughter is perfect. It’s funny to watch the grand kids grow under the watchful eye of grand father, who always knows best. All the best to you.

          Liked by 2 people

          1. And to you.
            Enjoyed the conversation too.
            It is fun indeed. Contrary to popular belief, little kids understand everything perfectly from a very early age.
            Take care.

            Liked by 2 people

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