Excerpt from "Vær Deg Selv" - by J. M. Carlstad 2007

...Rippling

past tall mountains of green velvet

rising up

to meet the northern sky

and while sea eagles watched

The longship drew to safety near shore

Its dragon’s head looming powerfully

Above the frothing surf

A shout roared over the waves

And burley men

Barged out, dispersing quickly

Amongst the waiting throng …

All save One,

Haakon the Fair,

The first born son

Who secured the ship

And made sure all was well

Before disembarking

From his vessel

His gaze took in the snowswept rocky outcropping

And the windworn shoreline

Where in the distance

He felt

More than saw

her presence

A lithe gray figure

This seer of Odin

Silhouetted against the Nordic sky

And then she was lost

As his father and crowds of family and friends

Gathered around him

Savage tales of battles wild, bravery,

Riches attained, new horizons

Filled the sky whilst

Feasting

And drinking of mead

continued on into the night

In this fortress of Midgard

This concept

itself

a destination...