Welcome, Seekers, to a new phase of activity for this blog, and here is my first poem for you all. This is the Skaldic Eagle’s poem about his mission in the world, and so I felt it the most appropriate one for this relaunch, since it is a sequel to my earlier poem, “A Skaldic Eagle Takes Flight,” which launched a previous phase of this blog back in early 2017. If you haven’t already done so, you may wish to read that precursor poem, either before or after this one. Enjoy!

A Skaldic Eagle must offer his Mead,
must give his gifts, for gain to the World;
the Work is imperative, a wode-filled impulse.
But defending the Center ‘gainst foes and shadows
—that its sacred light illumines unimpeded
a world of darkness—is a woesome task.
And even an eagle must often land,
and life on the ground can get one down,
with its oft-assaulting slings and arrows.
To endure the squalls, a Skaldic Eagle
must stay a course that’s steady and true,
with might and main on a Middle Path,
not eschewing extremes but choosing both,
and with an inner core that’s anchored in Spirit,
synthesize both into Sacred Mead—
’tis the eternal task of all true Masters.
What’s this Eagle’s task, his toilsome journey?
To offer enlightenment to all true seekers,
with open dialogue and the awesome Runes,
which belong to all who lift them up
—full stop, forsooth—from the fimbul darkness.
To inspire others to spiritual purpose
and a higher life to enhance their growth
with the brimming Mead, for by bread alone,
one cannot live, one cannot thrive.
Each finds The Good in the forms and idioms
that are suited to oneself and can seek from there
collective grounds for life in the world,
to be for something, in fullest truth,
not fashionably “against” in affected grandstanding.
What’s this Eagle’s way, his Work that effects?
Mandatory are my quests: for Mead, Runes, and Grails.
Small-minded people will oppress and assail me.
So far, some have: too seriously they take
themselves in their strikes. By standing for something,
one will get enemies; it’s an inevitable fact.
When showing one’s light in shining brilliance,
the dwellers in darkness will deem it offense.
But I’m called nonetheless, and must carry on,
to muster courage for that Middle Path
and to rebuke the bigots of both extremes.
Over it all, my “identity” as such
comes forth from craft and vocations’ paths.
Do good I must to good people,
for doom is deemed by deeds o’er all,
not belief, not identity. Look, here’s the truth:
the quests are my guide; the quests are my light.
Not pompous nor political, they are personal, spiritual.
Inspiration irrupts, and I render my Mead.
The Mysteries exist, and with zeal I seek them.
The Mountain beckons, and I make my way up.
Mead, Runes, and Grails: the mighty whole
is contained in those three, truly it is,
and the rest is commentary, though a rightful guide.
Thus goes the path of this Glory Eagle.

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