DIGGING UP THE PAST

(a very long saga)

(I dedicate this poem, to my son, Ted, who is an archeologist and teaches
at the University, in Toronto. He spent many happy hours, when he was in
High School, finding Pioneer sites and digging up artifacts, on my
property.)

Looking for ancient secrets....digging up the past,
Things buried beneath the earth, that actually did last!
A small child's porcelain tea set and a doll in a grave,
Tell us of childhood and the things they did save!
Statues of antiquity show styles, of clothing and hair,
Many statements, about early life, if we take time and care!
So many precious treasures....some of silver and gold!
And a marvelous collection, of stories once told!
In the very beginning, as we all know,
They could not read or write....this is so!
Even with Kings, it was the very same,
Symbol or seal were used, to sign their name!
Kings would hire "storytellers" to amuse their guests,
These would relate tales of heroes, battles and quests!
They chanted their tales, as the minstrels played,
Just a simple melody, on harps, to gently persuade!
So, the origin, in the "mist of time" became!
Descended, from some of the "gods", with a name,
Like Zeus, Apollo, Odin and Thor,
Were so vivid then, but they "live" no more!
Home life...Court life....the laws and taboos,
Word pictures, of boats and banquet halls, they'd choose!
Much interest, in the changing aspects, of the skies,
Ideas about astronomy, that everyone did prize!
Unconsciously, these ancient bards, in their own way,
Handed down historical records, each day!
Chieftans took bards, to the battlefield,
To encourage the warriors, so they would not yield!
Homer told of Troy...a walled city, that burned,
Fictitious tales, about fire-breathing dragons, were learned!
Bards were always welcomed, by the humblest peasant,
Or in castles and by friends....so elegant and pleasant!
If you live, in a world, without radio or T.V.,
And phones, books, newspapers still not to be,
Scarcely any travel or visitors, from afar, in that day,
You'd welcome a minstrel, in your home, free from pay!
He'd tell you, of exciting news, about the world,
New ideas and experiences would be unfurled!
A minstrel's profession was handed down to his son,
Word for word, he'd continue to please everyone!
Later..........when writing arrived on the scene,
They labelled them epics, or sagas, to explain what they mean!
The Kalevala, in the Finland minstrelsy, died out,
Only in the peasant memories, were the tales tossed about!
Then, an interested scholar, named Dr. Elias Lonrot, went,
To record the story fragments, in each remote hamlet!
Other scholars continued, until they collected,
Twenty-five thousand lines....at last....resurrected!
The American poet, Longfellow, was very impressed,
His imitation, "Song of Hiawatha", was one of his best!
The Kalevala is not like any of the others,
Telling of many wars and bloodshed for brothers!
It is gentle...romantic...about love and duty!
Filled to the brim, with misty, Arctic beauty!
The Iliad and the Odessey....so dignified and perfected,
But, the Eddas of Iceland, should next be respected!
Edda is "grandmother" to the children in Iceland, I'm told,
After the 9th Century, Irish and Norsemen...so bold!
These Viking "saga-makers" all did their part,
Their sagas had set rules....it became a fine art!
Only three, major themes were permitted you see,
Warfare...Civil Strife...Genealogy...were all that could be!
But, around these same topics, were woven tales,
Of wealth, war, families, with humor and romantic details!
>From the 12th Century onward, from Icelandic lips,
Scholars wrote wonderful sagas, on vellum slips,
How fortunate, that we have these, to this very day,
These Medieval sagas, with so much to say!
This brilliant civilization...as one so often hears,
Blossomed and died, in a few short years!
But, on a tiny island, in the North Atlantic,
In 1178-1241, Snorri Sturlason, was writing so frantic,
Five sagas, about ancient Scandinavian gods,
Half heaven....half earth....which portrayed all the odds!
Heroes, sibyls, giants and dwarfs were all there,
Weaving many tales, that were gruesome and fair!
Pagan and Christian were all woven together,
Facts rearranged.....some for the better!
Even a few family names were actually true!
And there were family feuds....yes, quite a few!
Siegfried, of the Nibelungs, in Germany is one,
Who remains a hero to most everyone!
The British Isles has Welsh, Irish and Old English,
As many sagas, as anyone could ever wish!
King Arthur legends, from Wales were first had,
To England and Brittany, where these did spread!
The Druids did not leave their stories, I'm told,
Historical events were now forgotten and cold!
Epic legends also flourished in France,
About Charlemagne and the feudal lords of chance!
His nephew was slain, by Saracens, in Spain,
It became a legend and Roland was his name!
Igor of Russia....Rustum of Persia...
Mothers singing and old men bringing,
Spinning their tales, of the ancient days,
About power, love and beauty, in so many ways!

Pauline Banning   P-1356-98-D18