Oh, Beowulf!
Hercules of Geat, chieftain of warriors.
Compassion propelled voyage to Hrothgar land
For an overthrow of Terrorist Grendel.
Oh, Beowulf!
Face to face and hand to hand in Heorot,
A hand of the foe pulled off,
To a one-arm death the foe retreated.
Oh, Beowulf!
A rage of vengeance propelled the mother
From the marshes to joyous Heorot,
Trusted Aeschere devoured with no trace.
Oh, Beowulf!
Down deep into the marshes for a duel
To turn off the power that turned off the light in Heorot
-Done, with a glimpse of deus ex machina.
Oh, Beowulf!
Return voyage to fatherland, with the brave ones,
The throne later ascended,
Peace wearing the crown for dominion.
Oh, Beowulf!
A count of a quintuple of decades on the throne,
A flame dragon came flaming,
A familiar battle, but the hair greying.
Oh, Beowulf!
The dragon opened the veins of the king,
His flaming head against the king.
This battle was no longer familiar.
Oh, Beowulf!
A rush of memory into faithful Wiglaf,
Down rushed he for his master’s succour.
The flame dimmed, the dragon slept.
Oh, Beowulf!
Fatalities described the injuries and the flow of blood,
But the treasures in captivity liberated,
Parting bidding as he crossed the bar into a deep sleep.
Why, Beowulf?
Brave warriors bidden to stay off the battles?
Prolong winters of rest not regarded?
Greying hair not considered?
Why, Beowulf?
Great Geat, great king,
Not a war initiated.
Peaceful warrior we still read of.
Oh, Beowulf!
- Babatunde Ola Sanyaolu
(This poem was written on the story of an Anglo-Saxon epic poem titled Beowulf)
