The Latest, Eldest Edda

The moon was cold and clear;
sea and wind crossed the lea.
But through the tavern fell a silence;
doors opened to the sea.
With the chill, there crept in fear;
and mulled wine lost its glee.
for, framed 'gainst stars, there stood Man,
God and killer, in one body.

The patrons eyed him fearfully
but never a word was spoke.
It was the shaking tavern-keeper
who, the tableau broke.
"Old friend, what do you now and near,
whom we had long thought dead?
How good it is to see you here, come
share our Salt, and Bread."

One good eye laughed, as Tygers laugh
when filled with a killing lust;
a sword whose naked, sharpened shine
would never be tinted rust.
And unbidden, did his memories
break out and share their flesh.
And form the tale of he who they
had only, long, thought dust.

One eye patched, the other grey,
The Man sat among them there.
Brooded, drank, and showed his thoughts
though not a word did share.
Beyond that stare, though, did they find,
the truth—and the Prince of Lies.
Of not long before, a battlefield,
amid corpses, and the flies.

There, somewhere, the Last War had raged,
until all armies’ fall.
With no hand left, on either side,
to raise a rally call.
But as he lay and felt his blood
irrigate muddy ground,
Within his ears, did Heaven’s trumpet
blow with Hell’s own sound.

This Man, was he lifted up;
placed on a new horse, to ride.
And traveling, now, did he find
the Devil at his side.
"Old Friend," did the proud Devil say,
"I see your End grows nigh.
Ride with me, pillage, by my side;
again, be the most High!"

The Man said nothing, and soon found
Even the Devil could burn.
That, to all great offers,
some might stay taciturn.
"Come, Old Friend," the Devil did say,
don’t, to me, play profound.
Look to those you have been bane;
the blood you've fed the ground!

"You belong to me,” the Devil did say,
“It appears in every sign.
Nor does it do, to fight your End
when after, your world is mine.”
The Man drew sword, whispered, harsh,
“I’ll not serve a Beast so … small.
All you must needs do is take me,"
said he, free after all.

Now later, his dark ale finished,
he placed his Cup back down.
Without a word, out door he strode,
what more, without a sound.
Not again did any see the eye,
the one good eye’s long stare,
But ever, with his ravens, he rides,
even if Valhalla is bare.