Ethelred The Viking Poem by Paul Warren

Ethelred the Viking was his name
And in his journeys he built his fame
For his long boats were held in fear
When sighted on the horizon near

But one day his long boat was becalmed
And they drifted for days to Ethelred's alarm
Then at last the wind blew
But they lost their way and apprehension grew

Then the sky changed to a deep red
And they couldn't tell where they were to their dread
Then land was sighted on the eighth day
They found a landing spot after searching away

So they dragged their boat to shore
In a place unlike any other seen and more
There were animals on two back legs hopping around
And the country was a paradise found

Then the days turned into months so long
Ethelred's men wanted to return home all along
So they loaded the long boat and set sail
Journeying long they made home without fail

From that day Ethelred's did not do well
Until finally losing his kingdom with no place to dwell
So he became a wanderer across the sea
Looking for the elusive land he found once to live on free

But he couldn't find the land again
And his wanderings became legend
Some say that at sundown when the sky is red
If you look out to see you can see Ethelred.

© Paul Warren Poetry