David Holliday
Thane
At Stamford Bridge I stood beside my king
to watch the blue-cloaked giant slowly ride
before his brigand troops, enheartening
their grim ranks, arrogant in sullen pride.
We broke them, and we killed the truant earl,
King Harold's brother; to their king we gave
the seven foot expanse of English soil
King Harold had assigned him for a grave.
Then force-marched south towards the Sussex coast,
flushed with our triumph, joyous in the sun,
to meet Duke William and his Norman host
who came in arms to seize the English throne.
And there, on Senlac's most unhappy field,
King Harold and the best of England died,
outwitted, not outfought; that dark day told
the end of England and of English pride.
When all is said, it is a shameful thing
for any housecarl to outlive his king.
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