Beyond Thule

Queen Asa and her slave girl sail

On a dragon ship

The steering paddle starboard

Guides the noiseless ship

The long low Viking ship.

Only yesterday they passed cave bear

Elk and reindeer carved into

Rock faces along Norway’s coast—

Then human figures, horned and dancing

Then Bronze Age sun wheels, trumpets

And phallic weapons of war.

Iron hammers, magic runes

Stone grave yards shaped

Like ships with treasures in their holds:

Rich brooches and silver vessels—

Then she passed an age of gold--

Entwined dragons

Set with precious stones

Ornaments for people and horses.

Now ahead see Queen Asa’s dragon ship

Flowing like water that purls below.

An ancient world dragon

Hisses under her keel

The water clear and the air pure

As she passes over beyond Thule.

                                                                                            --Barbara Spring