The Ashmen

By luigi_pagano

Wed, 06 Jun 2018
  • 1973 reads
8 comments
 

 

They came to these shores
in great numbers, the Norse.
These piratical heathens
who were violent and coarse
sailed the high seas
in wooden longships
and marauded this country
in their thousands.
 
They traversed the land
from village to village,
left a trail of destruction
after rape and pillage.
Also known as ashmen
for the ash-wood of their boats,
they had conical helmets
- but not horned, as assumed -
wore tunics and garments
like fine woollen coats.
 
The numbers 8, 6 and 793
are a reminder of how it began
and how life was going to be
under the thumb of Norsemen
following a raid on Lindisfarne
which left the abbey in ruin
after a vicious Viking attack.
A blow from which the island
might not bounce back.
 
But to put too much emphasis
on the Vikings' violence
would be to ignore
their own achievements,
their artistry, seamanship
and artistic excellence.
Forgoing any thought of raids
some even settled here
and engaged in trade.
 
We've had many a survey
proving a high number of us
are of Vikings descent
so we can safely say
without demur or dissent
their legacy is embedded
very firmly in our DNA.
 
© Luigi Pagano 2018
Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Historical Fiction
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

fascinating Luigi! What's the significance of 8, 6 and 793?

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

The 8th of June 793 is predominantly used as the starting point of ‘viking history' being the date the Vikings invaded Lindisfarne island and destroyed its abbey.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Just looked it up and saw that 8th of June that year was the raid – ?! Interesting to have another of your fun historical precis. One of my earliest recollections of writing poetry was an attempt to learn dates by making fantastic doggerely rhymes to try to remember them.

Fighting and stealing and ill will break out in all people groups from time to time. Good to know they settled down and lived here more peacably, or some of them did. Rhiannon

 

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Exactly right, Rhiannon, that's the key date. My interpretation of the prompt - 'numbers' - is a bit indirect as it talks of the 'great numbers' of the invaders and the 'high number' of Viking descents in addition to the digits comprised by the date. But what gave me the idea was reading about genetic DNA, a technique that determines the unique ethnic mix and origins of individuals and which has revealed that the average British person's DNA is only 36% British.

Glad you like my snippets of information.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Brilliant stuff, Luigi. By British do you mean pre-Roman? It must be almost impossible to determine amongst the ever-changing melting-pot. William of Normandy effectively closed the loop on the Saxons/Angles/Jutes etc when he and his Nor(se)man hordes invaded from the south. I'm surprised the label Anglo-Saxon survives at all. It must have served some propaganda purpose at some point.

Parson Thru

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Kevin. You make a very good point. I assumed that British equated to Anglo-Saxons. Here is how the Daily Mail reported some genetic DNA results:

"The average Briton is only really 37 per cent British - with the remainder of their genes coming from European ancestors from as far afield as Scandinavia, Spain and Greece.
DNA testing has also revealed how the people of Yorkshire are officially the most British people in the land, with their genetic makeup containing an average 41 per cent Anglo-Saxon stock.
London, meanwhile, is the most ethnically diverse, while the people of Wales have the highest proportion of ancestry from Spain and Portugal."

Best wishes, Luigi

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Luigi,

I enjoyed reading your informative piece. I'm glad you pointed out the Vikings good points as well as their unfavourable hostilities.

Jenny. xx

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Jenny,
I always make a point of finding something good even in a hostile regime. We must remain positive and hopeful.

Luigi xx