Rick Jackofsky
The Bloody Axe of Odin
Seeing the vaunted raven banner of Ubba hanging slack in the predawn air, those among the Viking horde who possess the gift of sight all agree that the day will not end well for the Great Army of the North.
With a wolfskin cloak and a sense of impending doom weighing heavy on his shoulders, the dux of the Frisians wades through the bloody battlefield, wielding his axe with an unnatural strength bestowed upon him by the Gods of Asgard. But alas, in the end, even the favor of Odin will not be enough to win the day. Overwhelmed by sheer numbers, with armor pierced by arrow and blade, the fearsome warrior stumbles to his knees before finally collapsing to the ground. Lying among the bodies of friend and foe alike, Ubba whispers a prayer of hope that he may be deemed worthy to be counted among the ranks of the Einherjar of Valhalla.
carrion crows
eye the flesh
of a fallen warrior
while a Valkryie
collects his soul
Author’s Note: Historical/mythical tanka prose about the Battle of Cynwit. A battle that took place in 878, where a besieged group of Saxons defeated an army of invading Vikings.
About the Author
Rick Jackofsky, poet, songwriter, and paterfamilias of The Homegrown String Band, enjoys reading, writing, and sharing captured moments of clarity. His haiku, senryu, tanka, and haibun have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies.