minstrel: Re: Of course, sorta

[Mike Baker]

Eeeek.  I didn't think I understood the Norse all that well, actually -- one 
of many areas where my learning is still at a rudimentary level.

Thanks for the vote of confidence and the commentary.  A few quibbles / 
questions:

>> The heros all boasted    with swordhands all reddened
>> Of hundreds now dead     the windrows of slaughter
>    Try the harvest of slaughter.  It's a cleaner kenning.

"Kenning" is one of the concepts that I feel I can approach but do not yet 
fully understand.  I chose 'windrows' in the attempt to invoke the concept 
of cutting hay (the avoidance of a straw-death, at a deeper level).  I agree 
that 'harvest' might be more accessible to a general audience.

>> Their fathers before them     in stone graves now sleeping
>    Note:the Norse called them stone ships

If I ever knew that I had certainly forgotten.  Will make a better 
connection to the 'dragon' reference later on, too.

>> Hammer and anvil    rang dark in the moonlight
>> Singing old skald-songs  red-hearted as morning
>    Nice picture.  Red Hearted?  This means the forge?  Loki was the
> heart of the forge.  Perhaps you should try reeve Loki til morning.  It
> was used in the original version of Weyland the Smith, a noble kenning
> line.

Hrrm. I knew 'Loghi' was the spirit of fire or some such, did not remember 
Loki with this particular connection.  (I recall a tale in which there were 
several contests: Thor drinking, Loki eating, and a mortal runner.  Loki was 
bested by Logi [Loghi], as fire devours all.)

Weyland?  yet another of the classic tales / poems that I have not read or 
heard in the full or more nearly original forms.

> Altogether excellent.  I like a bard who understands the Norse
> tradition.  Thanks!

You are welcome, although I repeat that I am still learning.  Allow me to 
credit Mstr. Cedric the Fiddler as teaching me much of the style by the 
example of his performances. In addition I must in honesty give some credit 
to that twisted bit of history re-told as "The Ballad of Bowie 
Gizzard's-bane".

Kihe Blackeagle (the Dreamsinger Bard)  s.k.a. Amr ibn Majid al-Bakri 
al-Amra
     currently residing in Barony of the Steppes, Kingdom of Ansteorra
Mike C. Baker                      mbaker at rapp.com
Any opinions expressed are obviously my own unless explicitly stated 
otherwise! 
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