This metered ode is written by a faery poet named Brighid. She's a character in my novel, The Grim Girl's Gallowglass. In pre-Christian Irish mythology, Brigid (spelled differently) was a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a supernatural race. She was the goddess "whom poets adored." Brighid writes this poem, "Grendel's Aunt," over the course of the novel.
"Grendel's Aunt" follows a hero named Hymm who transacts a business deal with Dwenndis, aunt of the monster Grendel, from Beowulf.
Amygdala's missive toward Mundt.
He traveled despondent, a low correspondent,
distracting his mind while his joy disinclined. But when
travel grew much too mundane, he decided to
peek at the note in his belt.
and a greeting from deathly beyond.
I traveled in dreams to the land of your ancestor,
Cain, your kin father, that great kin molester,
investor in war and the weaponry for,
and he gave me this 'Message for Dwenndis.'
and demands a percentage of payment.
For he's still the king of the Cainsian clan
and your Grendel is fighting on Cainsian land.
The blessing of war is the job of rebuilding,
but funding must first be repaid.
but one thing he's not is a bastard.
Entitled is he to the family fortune.
Pay legacy back or your now he'll enscorchen.
You steal from your future, you steal from his past
when you profit from war in the present.”
"Grendel's Aunt" is protected under a Creative Commons license stipulating no derivatives and full attribution.