By Will Falk

Battle of Clontarf
Hugh Frazer
one millennium later
and there are still warships in the bay
our time, our place
the longest night before
our own Clontarf
the sea
turns green from gray
the fog is cold
warns of an ever-lasting chill
the sand is blank and dry
unblemished
it won’t be for long
swords must be sharpened
while some eat
while some can’t
and some won’t
while we work
with invisible hammers
to build the greatest armor of all:
to be dead before the morning
to be ghosts before battle
and then to meet the Vikings
where no axe can fall
we pray to Brian Boru
one millennium later
because
there are still warships in the bay
and we must choose
our time, our place
Historical note: 2014 is the 1,000 year anniversary of High King of Ireland Brian Boru’s victory at the Battle of Clontarf over a combined force of Vikings, Leinstermen, and Ulstermen. Clontarf is a beach just north of Dublin. Despite winning, Brian Boru was killed by fleeing Vikings as he prayed in his tent after the battle.