Bardic Tales

Mal de mer and the Viking

It's little known outside the realm

But I have privy knowledge

A bit of hidden Viking lore

Not found in Eaton's college

Red Eric was both bold and strong

On land he had no equal

Had early history been unchanged

He would have had no sequel

Quite early in his Viking life

He proved that he could lead

No foe that ever faced his blade

Could come near match his speed

He studied at his father's knee

The manly art of war

He'd drive an enemy insane

With his berserker roar

But he could not set foot on deck

Of ship of any size

Except his red rimmed face turn green

He'd plead for his demise

As one would think, this proved to be

A handicap, it's plain

To lead seagoing wolf pack raids

His image to retain

He had to find a way to sail

That did not make him ill

So in that quest he searched the land

For one who had the skill

To make the mal de mer he faced

Of no real consequence

He found a hedge witch by the sea

And offered recompense

If she could only find a way

For him to ride the waves

Make sure the stomach he so fears

No longer misbehaves

She said, "Good sir, I'll take your pelf

And mold your heart's desire

Just know the changes I will work

Will hold 'til you ride fire!"

She drew her magic from the waves

That Eric wished to ride

She met him at the water's edge

At turning of the tide

She cast her spell, he felt the power

The changes neatly wrought

No longer was it wind and waves

Against which Eric fought

His dragon boat became to him

As steady as the land

No more he feared the pitch and yaw

Gave strength to his command

But there's a price all heroes pay

And all the mighty stumble

That like Achilles and his heel

A weakness keeps them humble

As leader Eric was the best

Won every raid he planned

But once he put his sea legs on

He could not walk on land

Richard Higley © July 2012