Poetry Column
- By Ragna

Hlaðgerðr - Skjaldmær
Lagertha - Shieldmaiden


Legends tell of courageous women,
Throughout the vast centuries,
On par with the warriors of men -
True menaces to their enemies!

Spin the wheel of time,
Find one who made their brand,
The wheel stops and lets out a chime -
We've ended up on the Vikings land!

This tale starts with Swedish King Frø,
When he defeated Siward Norway's King,
The women he wanted to disgrace so -
Public humiliation he wished to bring

Ragnar Lodbrok with vengeance on his mind,
An army at his call came to fight,
Putting on men's clothing they could find -
The women joined in with all their might

By accounts, one stood out the most,
Hair loose and flowing catches the periphery,
Betraying that a woman was host -
And key to Ragnar's very victory!

This heroine of matchless deeds,
Is none other than she who bares Lagertha as her name,
Impresses Ragnar enough that he needs -
To win her and marry the mighty dame!

No easy time did Lagertha give him,
A bear and a hound he had to get past,
Their ending was indeed quite grim -
But their marriage would not last!

The tales go on and tells,
That even divorced Lagertha would aid,
Ragnar in his many battle swells -
Falling many a foe with her blade!

Courageous and fierce in battle,
This shieldmaiden is strong even when defeated,
How she would die is something to not tattle -
With open arms in Valhalla she will be greeted!