Ode to a Vegi Rissole

Introduction

On Burns Night it is a custom to read poems by the bard during the course of the dinner, it is not unknown for someone at the table to declare that they have recently found an unpublished lost poem from the bard. 

Well I recently discovered this going through my great uncle's things, who like me was a vegetarian. It was clearly penned by the bards hand and may remind you of another of his great poems. I shall leave you to ponder the implications.

Ode to a Vegi Rissole

Fair be thine honest merry face,
Great lord of the vegetable race,
Above them all you take your place,
Grated carrot, courgette and oats.
Well be thee worthy of a grace,

To sliver down our throats.

The groaning platter there thee fill,
Thine buttocks like a distant hill,

Thine spatula would repair a mill,
In time of need.
Thine juices emerge, what a thrill,
It is to see you bleed.

Thine knife be ready for the rite,
And cuts you up without a fight,

Digging into thine gushing insides bright,
Like any witch.
And then, oh what a glorious sight,
Warm, steaming, rich.

Then, with silver weapons they strive,
Devil take the last man, on they drive,
Until their swollen bellies arrive,
Are stretched like drums.
But now who’s belly wilt survive,
When the time comes.

There be that loose French Ragout,
Or soya that would sicken a sprout,
Or fricassee would make them shout,

This be no winner!
Looks down with a sneering scornful doubt,
On such a dinner.

Poor devil, see him over his blush,
As weak as a withered rush,
His spindle-shank reduced to mush

His clenched fist extremely split.
Through a bloody battle field to crush,
Oh how unfit.

But note the rissole fed St George,

fashioned in the vegan forge,
Clasped in his hefty fist to gorge

He'll make it whistle.

Its savoury innards to disgorge,
Like the tops of thistles.

Thee powers who make mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Old England wants no watery ware,
That splashes in the bowl.
But if you wish her grateful prayer,
Gie her a vegi rissole!

Copyright Andrew Rea 2009

Evocation of John Barleycorn

Evocation of John Barleycorn

By the firm earth beneath my roots.

By the sap rising in my long shank,

By the breeze in my supple sheaves,

By the fullness of my cornels,

By the might of my burly beard,

I here stand proud before thee.

Standing tall and straight, thee do me adore,

Sudden end with sharp blade, as if to war.

My neck wilt be cut, with greatest of care,

My spirit set free, by they who doth dare.

With a flying scythe, falling to the ground,

Into a great sheaf, to be twisted and bound.

To be poured from a jug, into a long horn,

To be reborn as ale, thee shalt not mourn.

Copyright Andrew Rea July 2012

Whatever happened to Kissing Friday

Introduction

This lessor known and mostly forgotten festival gave much fun for children and died it's last death in the 1950's having survived in one or two last schools.

Whatever happened to Kissing Friday

Kissing Friday, it was only for play,

Shall we ban all, shall we bring on dismay.

First Friday after, Shrove Tuesday it were,

A little bit of fun, for him and for her.

A boy could kiss, any girl he doth please,

T’was a lesson, in the birds and the bees.

A blessing be on, any girl that was kissed,

The fortunate girl, she did not resist.

Kissing Friday, why did thee go away,

Its was’nt as if, it was everyday.

It was all in good fun, it was only Play,

Oh tell me kind sir, must we all be so grey.

Copyright Andrew Rea 2008

In the witching hour

Introduction

Set in January in Anglo-Saxon England, this poem explores the period of wakefulness between first and second sleep known as the watch. We know from Bede that the goddess of spring honoured in March (Hrethmonath) was Hretha as this is mentioned in his 'on the computation of time' and that she defeated the winter goddess. We do not know for sure who Hretha (later known as Erce) fort to defeat 'winter', but from the study of similar Germanic folklore I propose that it may have been the winter goddess Hella.

In the witching hour

Short days of dark, midwinter gone,

Light waxes just, crisp cold wanes strong.

Lighting long ruses, dipped in lard,

Yule behind us, soil still hard.

Bed of dry straw, on rush mat floor,

No windows just, a wooden door.

Storytelling, centered on fire,

Ladies Bed Straw, snug in the shire.

After first sleep, what was that dream!

Laying awake, things aren’t what they seem.

With Valkyrie, soaring in sky,

Flying above, frozen fields high.

Shape of darkness, shine spirit fire,

Fading fairies, begin to tire.

Defying cold, clime out of bed,

Drawn to warm hearth, breaking some bread

In flint stone hearth, ashes still glow,

Smoke in long hair, embers to blow.

Rake spent ash through, smoke sleepy eyes,

Logs go on fire, flames to arise.

Kindling embers, to bring forth flame,

Dancing shadows, to life they came.

Crisp crunching chill, cold clear moon bright,

Brave it outside, in dead of night.

End of first watch, twixt sleep and wake,

Flickering light , bones no longer ache.

Lay low in bed, fire burning bright,

Raunchy bed straw, in quiet of night.

Four legged beast, farmer's delight,

Dark riding rite, in quiet of night.

Say special prayer, save souls to keep,

Silently slowly, comes second sleep.

Star of first light, cold as Helheim,

Morning mead mist, raw winter time.

Hretha still sleeps, Hella’s hand holds fast

Winter's weary wind, spell not yet cast.

Copyright Andrew Rea September 2012

Index of poems on my blog

Poems about English places named after Anglo-Saxon gods:

Here be Frig

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/introduction-to-herebe-frig-in-this.html

Here be Thunor

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/introduction-to-here-be-thunor-unor-in.html

Here be Tiw

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/here-be-tiw-introduction-to-here-be-tiw.html

Here be Woden

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/introduction-tohere-be-woden-there-are.html

Poems about English places named after Anglo-Saxon Pagan elements:

Here be Altars

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/here-be-altars.html

Here be Dragons

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/here-be-dragons.html

Here be Elves

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/here-be-elves.html

Here be Ghosts

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/here-be-ghosts-introduction-to-herebe.html

Here be Giants

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/here-be-giants.html

Here be Goblins

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/here-be-goblins.html

Here be Grimstones

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/here-be-grimstones.html

Grimston – a message from the past?

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/grimston-message-from-past.html

Here be Groves

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/here-be-groves.html

Here be Puckers

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/here-be-puckers.html

This is the Thyng

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/this-is-thyng.html

Here be Witches

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/introduction-to-here-be-witches-this.html

Here be Wizards

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/here-be-wizards.html

Anglo-Saxon Charms

An exorcism of fever

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/a-recreated-heathern-charm

charm for a difficult journey

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/a-saxon-charm-for-difficult-journy.html

The Wyrm Chant

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/lacnunga-xxv-wyrm-chant.html

Against flying venom

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/lacnunga-cxxxiii-74.html

A charm against Heartburn

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/a-charm-against-heartburn.html

   Poems around the Anglo-Saxon year:

January

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/january-introduction-to-january-fterra.html

February

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/february-solmonath.html

March

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/march-hrethmonath.html

April

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/april-eostremonath.html

June

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/june-rra-litha.html

July

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/introduction-to-here-we-use-nine-herb.html

Third Litha

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/introduction-to-third-lithamonath.html

August

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/introductionto-august-weod-monath-weod.html

September

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/introductionto-september-haligmonath.html

October

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/october-winterfylleth-introduction.html

November

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/novemberblotmonath-blotmonath-month-of.html

December

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/december-introduction-to-december-rra.html

Yule

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/yule-geola-introduction-to-yule-geola.html

  These deal with the use of magic in various ways:

Aelfred

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/aelfred.html

Angel of Death

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/angel-of-death-introduction-note-this.html

On the spindle side

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/introductionto-on-spindle-side-thispoem.html

Spell of invincibility

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/spell-of-invincibility.html

Spell of the mead

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/introductionto-spell-of-mead.html

Sutton Hoo

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/sutton-hoo-introduction-to-sutton-hoo.html

The Corn Dolly

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-corn-dolly-goddess-nerthusout-of.html

With Faerstice

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/with-faerstice-introduction-this-poem.html

To Charm a Cow

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/to-charm-cow.html

English folk festivals

First day of Yule Dec 2012

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/first-day-of-yule-remember-yule-is-all.html

Twelfth Night

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/twelfth-night-introduction-to-twelfth.html

Wassail the apple tree

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/introduction-to-wassail-apple-tree.html

Imbolc

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/blog-post.html

Eostre Chant

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/eostre-chant-with-zest.html

Hochtide

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/hocktide.html

Elizabethan May

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/elizabethan-may.html

Mid Summer’s Eve

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/introductionto-mid-summers-eve-eveo

Evocation of John Barleycorn

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/evocation-of-johnbarleycorn-by-firm.html

Samhain

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/samhain.html

    Miscellaneous:

Return ye Haegtesse

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/return-ye-hagtesse.html

Thou art Aelfscyne

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/thou-art-aelfscyne.html

Watch in the Woods

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/watch-in-woods.html

Dweorgh Dwosle 

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/dweorgh-dwosle.html

The Great Famine

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/the-great-famine.html

Silly Dragons

First Dragon

 http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-first-silly-dragon-there-was-giant.html

Second Dragon

 http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/thesecond-silly-dragon-thecockatrice.html

Third Dragon

 http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-third-silly-dragon-waterdragon-from.html

Fourth Dragon

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-fourth-sill-dragon-there-was.html

Fifth Dragon

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-fifth-silly-dragon-earthdragon.html

Sixth Dragon

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-sixth-silly-dragon-therewas.html

Seventh Dragon

 http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-seventh-silly-dragon-basilisksung.html

Eighth Dragon

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-eight-silly-dragon-thefiredrake.html

Ninth Dragon

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-ninth-silly-dragon-thefiredrake-got.html

Tenth Dragon

 http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-tenth-silly-dragon-therewas-sea.html

Eleventh Dragon

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-eleventh-silly-dragon-thecockatrice.html

Twelfth Dragon

http://newanglo-saxonpoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-twelfth-silly-dragon-therewas.html

The great famine

Introduction

This poem is based on an entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 975: 'during harvest, appeared "cometa" the star; and then came in the following year a very great famine, and very manifold commotions among the English people’.

At that point in time we find ourselves in a society that had been fully Christianised for over 200 years, but as today and more so up until the invention of modern agricultural machinery, there would have been many continuations of Pagan practices but partially robbed of their meaning.

From Bede’s ‘De Temporum Ratione’ on the reckoning of time, we know that Nerthus was the Earth Mother Goddess (until Frigg took over this role) and Wuldorfadur, the solar logos, was her consort. Reference was also made to the names of the months: Solmonath (mud month), February when offerings were made to these Gods by way of planting Sol Cakes into the earth. Blotmonath, blood month was when you took stock of your livestock and decided how many could be fed over the winter the surplus then met their end.

The feast in the rigs was due to folk for harvesting in the lords fields and is recorded in Saxon law. The drinking feast for the return to ploughing in February is like recorded.

A failed harvest was taken as divine punishment.

The reference to house fairies refers to the Cofgodas, these would guard a household, and would be given offerings in return. After Christianisation, it is believed that the belief in Cofgodas survived as the Hob.

A songal is a handful of corn.

Loaf Ward is the origin of lord.

The great famine (Anno Domini 976)

Last year in the rigs, we had merry a time,

Lusty summer play, with sheaves bound in twine.

Bright harvest comet, with full moon in sky,

Fine feast of plenty, but dark crows didst cry.

No priest of Nerthus, to visit our fields,

No heathen ritual, to safeguard our yields.

No Nerthus tribute, for next year’s harvest,

No one didst think of, forthcoming unrest.

In cold Solmonath, dolly went to earth,

Blessing the plough share, and drinking to mirth.

All drinking much ale, as fathers had done,

But not to honour, the old heathen sun.

The bright harvest moon, she shone and burned bright,

But little to cut, for our feasting rite.

Devine punishment, is god's ghostly will,

Meanwhile pious priests, are eating their fill.

This Blotmonath leaves, few beasts still alive,

Cruel long wintertide, how will we all thrive.

We ask our Loaf Ward, for grain to be fed,

But wheat chaff and grass, we use to make bread.

Oh mother Nerthus, wherefore hast thou gone?

Oh Wuldorfadur, why hast thou not shone?

The old ways did serve, in our tide of need,

With rite of casting, sacred songal of seed.

Without offerings, the fairies did leave,

Magical powers, they no longer weave.

To the great mead hall, greybeard boldly went,

I followed soon when, my angle was sent.

Copyright Andrew Rea December 2013

Here be Grimstones

Introduction to ‘Here be Grimstones’ (Settlements haunted by a ghost)

Here we look at a number of towns whose names can be traced back to Saxon times as haunted by ghosts.

Here be Grimstons

Ghosts of the hill cliff, pit hole wood and mound,

Since old Saxon times, were to the land bound.

Illusion or real, manifestations,

Do terrors survive, at these locations?

Grimston church Norfolk, lost in Doomsday search,

Roman villa bricks, used in ghost town church.

How did it manage, its image to hide?

Phantom Saxon church, on the other side.

Grimston Leicestershire, with ghost tunnel long,

Doomsday book village, timber station gone.

Now just a test track, for ghost trains to run,

In this little town, the ghosts they have won.

Grimston was levelled, since eight hundred years,

Just a ghostly tor, to hold back the tears.

Hill over Sherwood, is solemnly ploughed,

Neighbouring Wellow, its Maypole still proud.

Ghoulish North Grimstone, North Yorkshire village,

Cut off in its track, rails they were pillaged.

Old Saxon church gone, only font remains,

The station now house, hears only ghost trains.

Grimston East Yorkshire, now only grows grains,

Farm house moated from, ghost hamlet remains.

Coastal village lost, but mansion it cheers,

One family held, for a thousand years.

Copyright Andrew Rea  Spring 2012