The Viking-Era's Slaves Poem by Tor Magnor Solvang

In Norway's Viking Age, a sad tale is told
Of slaves and thralls, who toiled, young and old
Every fourth person, a captive's fate
A life of servitude, with no escape to wait

Their days were filled with toil and endless strife
From dawn till dusk, with little room for life
Their labor was hard, their fate unsure
A constant reminder of their status obscure

They worked the land, the farms, and the sea
Their masters' property, a life of servitude to be
Their freedom was lost, their future unsure
A life of bondage, with no escape to endure

Their homes were humble, their meals meager too
Their clothing worn, their spirits dulled and blue
They lived in fear, of their master's wrath
A life of slavery, with no chance to be free at last

But still they hoped, for a better day
A chance to escape, to find a way
To freedom's shores, where they could roam and play
A life of their own, free from the Viking's sway.