The Battle Of MaldonThe wolves of war advanced, the Viking troop,Unmoved by water, westward over Pante,Over the gleaming water bore their shields.The seamen brought their linden-shields to land.There Byrhtnoth and his warriors stood readyTo meet their enemies. He told his troopsTo make a shield-wall and to hold it fastAgainst their foes. So battle with its gloryDrew near. The time had come for fated menTo perish in that place. A cry went up.The ravens wheeled above, the fateful eagleKeen for his carrion. On earth was uproar.

Anonimous

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They let the file-hard spears fly from their fists,Grimly-ground darts; and bows were busy too.Shield received spear-point; savage was the onslaught.Fighters fell dead, young men on either side.Wulfmar was wounded. Byrhtnoth’s sister’s sonChose death in battle, he was utterlyCut down by swords. But there at once was vengeancePaid to the Vikings, for I heard that EdwardStruck one of the, so fiercely with his sword,Restraining not the stroke, that at his feetThe fated warrior fell to the earth.For this prince, as soon as he had time,Gave grateful thanks to his bold chamberlain.So the stout-hearted warriors stood firmIn battle, and the young men eagerlyCompeted who might first with point of spearDeprive a fated soldier of his life;And all around the slaughtered fell to earth.Steadfast they stood, as Byrhtnoth stirred them onBade every soldier concentrate on warWho wished to wine renown against the Danes.

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A warlike Viking soldier then advanced,His weapon raised, his shield up in defence,And strode towards the earl, who in return Marched resolutely forth to meet the churl.They each intended evil to the other.The seaman hurled a Frankish javelinSo that the leader of the troops was wounded.He thrust out with his shield so that the shaftWas shattered and the spear sprang back again.Enraged, the hero seized his spear and stabbedThe proud, rash Viking who had wounded him.No novice was the earl, he made his spearPass through the young man’s neck, guided his handSo that he pierced the pirate fatally.

This is one of my favourite poems. I find epic stories fascinating, so this is whyI chose this one.

I think that in this part of the poem the Vikings are depicted as the bad guys,and their strength is not shown in the same way as Byrhtnoth’s warriors. They aredescribed in a really negative way. I don’t ‘like’ that. But if we consider that theVikings are the invaders, they are the bad guys.

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Voluspá52. Surt fares from the south | with the scourge of branches,The sun of the battle-gods | shone from his sword;The crags are sundered, | the giant-women sink,The dead throng Hel-way, | and heaven is cloven.

53. Now comes to Hlin | yet another hurt,When Othin fares | to fight with the wolf,And Beli's fair slayer | seeks out Surt,For there must fall | the joy of Frigg.

54. Then comes Sigfather's | mighty son,Vithar, to fight | with the foaming wolf;In the giant's son | does he thrust his swordFull to the heart: | his father is avenged.

55. Hither there comes | the son of Hlothyn,The bright snake gapes | to heaven above;. . . . . . . . . .Against the serpent | goes Othin's son.

Anonimous

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56. In anger smites | the warder of earth,--Forth from their homes | must all men flee;-Nine paces fares | the son of Fjorgyn,And, slain by the serpent, | fearless he sinks.

57. The sun turns black, | earth sinks in the sea,The hot stars down | from heaven are whirled;Fierce grows the steam | and the life-feeding flame,Till fire leaps high | about heaven itself.

58. Now Garm howls loud | before Gnipahellir,The fetters will burst, | and the wolf run free;Much do I know, | and more can seeOf the fate of the gods, | the mighty in fight.

This is a part of the Voluspá, the first poem of the Poetic Edda, a collection of Scandinavian poems. These stanzas (52-58) describe the Ragnarök. We see Odin’s and Thor’s deaths, and how their ‘nemesis’ are killed as well.

I think that the Ragnarök is an irony, it is caused by the actions that try to prevent it. The gods try to avoid it and end upbothering those who will lead it. They bring the death of the world, just as common human beings nowadays, don’t they?

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59. Now do I see | the earth anewRise all green | from the waves again;The cataracts fall, | and the eagle flies,And fish he catches | beneath the cliffs.

60. The gods in Ithavoll | meet together,Of the terrible girdler | of earth they talk,And the mighty past | they call to mind,And the ancient runes | of the Ruler of Gods.

61. In wondrous beauty | once againShall the golden tables | stand mid the grass,Which the gods had owned | in the days of old,. . . . . . . . . .

62. Then fields unsowed | bear ripened fruit,All ills grow better, | and Baldr comes back;Baldr and Hoth dwell | in Hropt's battle-hall,And the mighty gods: | would you know yet more?

And these stanzas (59-62) show thebeginning of a new world, and how Horand Baldr would resurrect united. Andthis, union, is what we would need, in ourworld, now, so that all ills grow better.

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i like my body when it is with your

i like my body when it is with yourbody. It is so quite new a thing.Muscles better and nerves more.i like your body. i like what it does,i like its hows. i like to feel the spineof your body and its bones, and the trembling-firm-smooth ness and which i willagain and again and againkiss, i like kissing this and that of you,i like, slowly stroking the, shocking fuzzof your electric fur, and what-is-it comesover parting flesh ... And eyes big love-crumbs,

and possibly i like the thrill

of under me you so quite new

Edward Estlin Cummings

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I think this is an erotic poem describinga sexual encounter. I don’t like the useof the pronoun I in small letters. For me,this represents a problem of identity andPersonality. Because of this, I see theauthor as seeing himself as an object inthe relationship. I see his relationship assomething he enjoys, but in asubmissive way.

Txt TlkHey bby, Ily, see u soonAlright bby gurl, u on ur wayI'm drivin now bootyfull, b der n 2 mins, k?M'kay, b carefull bbyOkay, d car is right n front of meOkay bby, txt me back nyways?4sure bby, but brb, rear end collisionLol, u ok?Yeah, lol, guy in front of me flew out windshieldLOL! People r bad drivers. should have worn seatbeltROFL brb again, veering off road in 2 lite postLMAOUhOh. bby gurl, ima b late, being air lifted 2 hospitalUgh! How lng?IDK! Brain surgery n junk. Hopefully not 2 lng. Tell you when done.Okay, ttyl

d0c Mart3n

I like the way this poem is written; it was new to me, kind of funny too. I think the poemshows how individualistic and selfish people can be, as well irresponsible. We see howindifferent to others’ accidents the two people talking are, and this is how most of oursociety is. Perhaps the guy who wrote it only meant to amuse, but I think this is muchdeeper than that.

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The Lamentation of the Old Pensioner

ALTHOUGH I shelter from the rain Under a broken tree My chair was nearest to the fire In every company That talked of love or politics, Ere Time transfigured me.

Though lads are making pikes again For some conspiracy, And crazy rascals rage their fill At human tyranny, My contemplations are of Time That has transfigured me.

There's not a woman turns her face Upon a broken tree, And yet the beauties that I loved Are in my memory; I spit into the face of Time That has transfigured me.

d0c Mart3n

I imagine that the narrator of this is an old person who feels proud of the time they lived in and ofthe experience gained. I don’t get why this is alamentation; I believe the poem depicts a positivescene.Besides, this is how I see age, as a succesion of Events and achievements, and of gained wisdom.

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