Stars of Sea and Silk

From the soil new life shall emerge

The horns of the Ram shall bear fruit

Day and night shall meet and converge

The Rat shall go forth and seek truth

The flowers of the earth shall blossom

The Bull shall be slaughtered for meat

The light of the sun shall grow awesome

The Ox shall be harnessed for wheat

A rainbow shall bloom from a sea of brown

The Twins shall compete with sword and fist

The sun shall reach its highest crown

The Tiger’s fur gleaming from tail to wrist

Fire and air shall meet and unite

The Crab shall scuttle ‘neath the moon’s wax and wane

Evening is pierced by spears of light

The Hare shall brood and give each one a name

Summer has begun its downward path

The Lion prances and protects at will

The sun unleashes its final wrath

The Dragon is fearsome, but shall not kill

Leaves are shedding their emerald skin

Last of the flowers wreath the Virgin’s hair

Women shall greet each other as kin

The Snake keeps wisdom, but still, beware

The air shall cool and leaves will fall

The Scales will balance day and night

Flowers give in to slumber’s call

The Horse shall gallop with all its might

Winter is rapping at autumn’s door

The Scorpion is all of greed and death

The frost has enclosed the forest floor

The Sheep is peaceful to its very last breath

The tears of heaven turn cold and white

The Centaur shall nock and raise his bow

The grip on nature becomes strong and tight

The Monkey shall leap between to and fro

Garlands of holly reside and abound

Land and sea unite in the Goat

The sun shall be deepest below the ground

The Rooster’s feathers like a rainbow coat

The hold of winter begins to slack

The Bearer of Water fills her bowl

Refreshment coaxes the sunlight back

The Dog keeps watch from the grassy knoll

The arrow of spring shall pierce winter’s mail

The Fish shall swim and spawn once more

Heaven’s dagger shall meet nature’s grail

Strength and honor is the heart of the Boar

Book Review: Viking Warrior

I first came across The Strongbow Saga seemingly a random. It was the summer of 2006 and I was working as an intern at the American Museum of Natural History. One day I was browsing at Barnes & Noble and saw this title on the teen fiction shelf. It looked interesting, so I decided to buy it. By the time I finished it (which wasn't long, I assure you), I was already hankering for more. Filled with painstakingly researched and accurate historical detail, Judson Roberts' masterful storytelling completely dispels popular stereotypes of the vikings and their world.

The story centers around the character Halfdan, the illegitimate son of Hrorik, a Danish chieftain, and Deirdru, an Irish princess captured by Hrorik several years before. Having lived all his life as a slave, Halfdan is acknowledged by Hrorik on his deathbed as his legitimate son. Halfdan is then trained in the arts of war by Hrorik's son Harald, who is perfectly happy to love Halfdan as his own brother. However, when dispute over a land inheritance arises between Halfdan and Toke, Hrorik's stepson, the wheels of fate are slammed into motion.

While visiting his inherited lands with Harald, Halfdan and the entire estate are attacked at night by Toke and his men, and nearly everyone is brutally slaughtered. Only Halfdan survives, and swears an oath of vengeance on Toke and all his followers.

For anyone interested in the world of the vikings, visit Mr. Roberts' websites:

http://www.judsonroberts.com/

http://strongbowsaga.com/ 

 

Heaven's Bridge

As pure as a shower of morning snow,

this milky hue is the sum of the parts.

Like pearls and ivory, shining bright,

or feathered swans and blooming lilies,

it is a shade that encompasses all.

The rosy arch is first in line,

like the gleaming jewels of Hades’ fruit,

or the feathered cuirass of spring’s first herald.

The product of both birth and battle

lends its hue, but not its hate.

A tiger’s tail unmarked by stripes,

it glows above like an autumn sunset.

Shining amber from end to end,

its pumpkin hue lights up the sky.

Eternal fire of peace and hope.

Heaven’s lantern joins the fold,

like fields of ripened wheat and barley,

or a tawny lion amongst the daffodils.

Gleaming like the finest gold,

this honeyed light is warm and tranquil.

Jade and emerald adorn the center,

like the resplendent feathers of the quetzal.

Yang to the yin of the sacred serpent.

A single, long, unending vine,

kissed with the glaze of young tree’s locks.

Shining like plumes of bluebell flame,

the sky is greater than life and thought.

Turquoise mirror of Ulmo’s realm,

this natural beauty surrounds us all.

Its aqua hue is pure and perfect.

The ocean’s richness spans the heavens,

like the shining cloak of Mother Virgin,

or the downy feathers of the peacock.

Lapis lazuli adorns the Goddess.

Midnight sky strewn bright with stars.

This royal mantle completes the range,

like the shining skin of ripened plums,

or heaven’s dew in an amethyst goblet.

A flower in color and in name,

it is a hue both rich and regal.

Although distinct from one another,

these many hues are meant to join.

From the road to Valhalla to Yahweh’s oath,

they bring together the best of life,

and form a whole that shines for all.

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