The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.2004, Page 38

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 59 #1
Poetry
Vinland Quest
Eirik The Red, a Viking warrior so bold,
was exiled from Iceland for crimes of old,
set sail for a new land with wife, son and crew,
then called on his gods to guide his "'’sea steeds.
Westward he turned, sailing into all fjords
of his new country, Greenland, settled at Eiriksfjord,
where he "'hallowed the land, raised a dynasty of
three sons and a daughter, all explorers at heart.
Leifur the eldest son, heard many compelling tales
of western lands sighted by "'Bjarni Herjolfsson.
In one thousand A.D. Leifur and crew westward sailed,
discovered "'Helluland, "'Markland and a land of plenty
with riches unbound, which he named Vinland The Good.
He returned to Greenland with wealth and honour
where he ruled at Althing with justice and caring,
forever known as Leif The Lucky, for ventures so daring.
Thorvald, Eirik's second son, also fearless and bold,
longed to seek lands and fjords far beyond Vinland.
He sailed with a crew to a cape he named "''Kjalarnes,
then on to a tree-lined fiord where he proclaimed,
"Here in this lovely spot I shall build my home."
But Fate intervened when the "'skraelings appeared,
a battle ensued and Thorvald by an arrow was felled,
his Viking heart buried in Vinland The Good.
Thorsteinn, the youngest, a Viking god in mien,
married a gracious lady, Gudridur Thorbjarnardottir.
Seeking fame and fortune they set sail for Vinland,
but their ship, buffeted by storms and shrouded in fog,
was cast ashore at Greenland, not Vinland The Good.
Thorsteinn’s fate was sealed by this ill-timed voyage
honour-bound, he ensured his crew's survival,
then died, his dream unattained, but beloved by all.
Thorfinnur Karlsetni, a young trader from Iceland,
sailed to Greenland where he wed the widow Gudridur.
With three ships and crews they set sail for Vinland,
firmly determined to colonize this bountiful land,
settled at "'Straumfiord, where Gudridur gave birth
to "'Snorri, first white child in North America born.
Thorfinnur traded with skraelings, then battles began,
they returned to Greenland and Iceland, their hopes denied.