VIKING by Virginia Hainsworth

Wind north-westerly, veering northerly later,

crying to the Nordic gods,

shaking them from their long sleep.

Storm approaching.

Sea state high, occasionally very high,

waves straining to reach the sky,

failing to quench the enchanted fires

or douse the myths.

Weather wintry, thundery showers.

Sounds of battle, gods against giants.

Clouds of dwarves, witch queens, magic hammers,

crowding the skies.

Visibility good, occasionally poor.

Runic letters carved into stone

momentarily revealed, forecasting unrest.

Increasing later.

The shipping area ‘Viking’, off the southwestern coast of Norway, is named after the sandbank situated there.  But the word ‘Viking’ conjures up so much more.