#beowulf
I am so sorry Mother.
I am an ugly, horrid creature.
I am monstrous.
My face scares children.
Thick slabs of ebony skin blind my vision.
I have no nose.
I cannot breathe.
My lungs have never been satisfied by the crisp, Jipe air.
I cannot speak.
My lips are sealed from the day of my being.
My head is smooth and bare like an infant.
My crown is missing, stolen from me.
It has been stripped from our people since the Windsor King arrived.
I am a monster.
I hate myself.
My hunger consumes me.
It is all encompassing.
I cannot stop it.
But I need to eat.
I have put it off for too long.
I have to eat.
I am going to eat.
Mother, I did it.
You told me to suppress my urges.
I am a horrible son.
I am sorry.
I could not resist.
I loathed the taste.
It was raw and impure.
Its bitter taste seeped into my throat.
I tried to stop it, but I couldn’t.
They taunted me, the King's men.
So I chased them.
I chased them into their house.
I found the unlucky one hiding under a bed.
The quick patter of his heartbeat echoed in my mind, guiding me to his fate.
His death was slow and numbing.
His skin withered like oil, seeping into my essence.
Every piece of him became a piece of me until his absence engulfed the room.
The essence of him consumed me.
It rejuvenated me.
I was divine.
I could see.
Nothingness faded into light, then to color, and shapes.
The heaviness in my chest faded away.
I could breathe.
I was weightless.
My hair, once absent, grew to prickles on my scalp.
I could finally part my lips.
For the first time I could laugh.
I could scream.
So that’s what I did.
I laughed and screamed and cried to the world.
Overwhelmed by my senses, I did not notice the second man approach me.
Sorry Mother.
I did not notice the man take out his sword.
Sorry Mother.
And I did not notice the man slice my head off of my neck until it was too late.
Sorry Mother.
Once overcome with ecstasy, my body rests in the soil of our home.
My head, stolen from you, is now a trophy perched above the king’s throne.
I apologize, Mother.
Nov 28, 2025
Nov 28, 2025 at 1:26 AM UTC
Don’t you feel bad for Grendel,
His mind is poisoned by the devil.
He is just a lost boy in a harsh world against him.
Voices in his head push him towards the brim.
He hates the world that he roams alone,
The Dragon’s charm; his flesh hard as stone.
The Shaper's voice; his head is aching,
Wealtheow’s beauty; his heart is breaking.
Grendel's mother’s embrace—a silent plea,
In her shadowed depths, he struggles to be free.
From Beowulf’s strength, he cannot hide,
The warrior's might marks Grendel’s tide.
Grendel's anger seals his fate,
Fatal madness will not abate.
His demise is in the mead hall,
“Poor Grendel’s had an accident. . . . So may you all.”
Oct 15, 2024
Oct 15, 2024 at 11:58 PM UTC
Lawrence Hall, HSG
[email protected]
Beowulf Visits the Dentist
Arise from the nitrous oxide
From the somnolence, dreams, and pain
With forge-hammered teeth
And then go out
Go out and bite something
Jul 13, 2024
Jul 13, 2024 at 9:37 AM UTC
Lawrence Hall, HSG
[email protected]
Draining the Blood of Humans at Twilight
A powerful monster // living down
in the darkness growled // in pain…
-Beowulf, Burton Raffel translation
In the sinister dusk // they seek our blood
A ghastly enemy // of disgusting thirst
Stealing up from the swamp // and primordial mud –
Well, we stole their habitat // – mosquitoes were here first!
May 20, 2024
May 20, 2024 at 10:56 AM UTC
Lawrence Hall
[email protected]
https://hellopoetry.com/lawrence-hall/
poeticdrivel.blogspot.com
Beowulf and the Danish Passport Officer
From a recently discovered manuscript
The clapped-out Boeing wheezed to the gate
The ground crew jumped name-tags rattling
And swiftly moored the shining ocean-bird
Behind his plastic shield a Danish official watched
The travelers approach their passports raised
He stood peeking down at the naughty selfie
His girlfriend sent to his bold smart-phone
Shaking his rubber stamp he spoke:
“What is the purpose of your visit?
Business, or pleasure? Hwaet! I’ve stood
At this same gate longer than you know
Keeping our gift shops free from British footer hooligans
No commoner carries such fine matching luggage
Unless his Rolex and his boyish good looks
Are lies You! Tell me your name
And your home address and your email!
The quicker the better I’m off-duty in ten minutes.”
Beowulf answered him Unlocking his smart-phone:
“We are the Geats the mighty, mighty Geats!
Men who follow Malmo FF Malmo FF the great!
And we have come seeking Parken Stadium
Greatest of all stadia Its shining seats polished
By cheering generations of fat-full footer fans
We have come to cheer Malmo FF
While they whup up on Dansk Boldspil Union
Instruct us, watchman Where is the stadium
But first, where is the beer?”
The worthy officer
Answered him boldly:
“A true fan knows
The difference between fighting on the field
And puking in the stands and keeps that knowledge clear
In his beery brain I believe your babbling
Go forward, credit cards and all on into Denmark
Spend your money! Our exchange rate is generous!
And then go home bearing our love while we bear your money.”
(Stamp, stamp, stamp) “Tram stop to the left
Taxis to the right”
(Scholars everywhere will regret that here the burnt and torn manuscript breaks off.)
Oct 4, 2021
Oct 4, 2021 at 9:10 AM UTC
Lawrence Hall
[email protected]
https://hellopoetry.com/lawrence-hall/
poeticdrivel.blogspot.com
On the Unlocking of Words
Their leader answered him, Beowulf unlocking
Words from deep in his breast: "We are Geats…”
-Beowulf to the Danish Coast Watcher
In bold and sturdy four-beat lines
Beowulf keeps his knowledge clear
With kennings well-crafted and careful caesurae
And never needing to raise his voice
But thus the Grendel-voice responds:
“Woo woo that’s just my person opinion that’s what I’m talking about follow your passion learn to code no offense, but *** oh my God oh my God woo woo hey hey ** ** something-something has got to go woo woo only dead fish go with the flow tear it down shut it down burn it down woo woo lock her up there is no I in team woo woo not my president it’s not rocket science it is what it is woo woo say it loud say it clear this is what something looks like woo woo is there an app for that woo woo that’s what I’m saying woo woo…”
But you - be brave like Beowulf, and boldly dare
To unlock your words with creativity and care
Jun 13, 2021
Jun 13, 2021 at 8:15 AM UTC
Beowulf the hier of nothing of rot
Mother he know not
Raised in shame banished wroght
Returned to his village to seek wrothgar a father he yet sought
News of death the sorrow he fought
Till the night trouble it brought
Grendal at night did strike
Killing thous from wicked and strife
None but Beowulf saw the **** of the fight
Guards did come, and saw a false sight
Beowulf they thought the killer that night
Sentenced to death but never to suffer that blight
Beowulf escaped and rode at dawn, Off to seek golem and where he lurk
Off to the woods there they found Grendal
With much haste golem charged Beowulf dirk was drawn
Hacking off the fingers of golem was hurt
Grendal roared and ran
Holding tightly to his wounded hand
Beowulf returned with trophy in bag gasps where made across the land
Guards double watch patrolling village to make a stand
Night came and blood was shed
Grendal made way to the mead hall all the way warriors bled
Beowulf was ready and calmly said
I have his fingers how about his arm instead
Attacking the creatures buckled arm ripping it off golem then ran and fled
Beowulf grabbed arms and said fingers now arm soon his head
They reassembled on horses arms ready and raged
Gave chase
All fell but Beowulf by accord golem laid dead he lead deeper around bend
mother by him seducing Beowulf of power and ***** by all that was said
Beowulf accepted the fouls bargain
But all was not well in thee end
Dragon flew to the sky warriors of King Beowulf Fend
Beowulf killed his son of the dervish deal the dragon
But deadly wounds of were not on dragon alone Beowulf had fallen both a killing blow send
Beowulf funeral ceremony of fire and water below the deep the foul was spotted to be burned alive with Beowulf lover in arms
Blasphemy and Treacherous woes for all of she slaughtered
Now known Beowulf deed leading men like fodder
Against them knowing deal he had waged
Too be written and sung in the latter days
Beowulf the hero king the liar the cheat they called
Beowulf the man flawed as all that ultimately brought his downfall
Nov 20, 2020
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:56 PM UTC
Today a thousand burdens coalesced;
Mind-monsters made meal of me.
Grief carved my face. Cry not, cry not,
We have no room for more tears.
In the morning, I saw dawn rising,
And a grey world turn green.
The sky was emptiness, blue bold music,
Over the sun that swift leapt high.
So cry not, cry not, my friend in sorrow,
Though masked faces weep in silence.
We are not alone in this desperate anger;
Dim lies the light before dawn.
Jun 27, 2020
Jun 27, 2020 at 1:09 PM UTC
Meet me at the edge of the mountain
With your arms around me, breath heavy
Take me away, towards the persimmon sun.
Rest your head upon my shoulder
And share with me authors you read fondly.
Send me to a land, where gleaming parties and revolutions are canon.
Sit and read to me of Grendel
And the darklings of Keats, his solemn pastorials
Protect me from all, Sir Beowulf, my knight with bravery ineffable.
Traverse with me the woods
Away from the cabin, and to the pond.
Tell me of the leaves you see-- muddy, mucky, made webbed.
Sing to the moon the poetry of your swoon
The light that cares and dusts away your desk
O Gabriel, my knight and day, scare away his hooves.
Lead me to a life far from Auerbach
Yet so near, through your words on our mountain walk.
Dec 30, 2019
Dec 30, 2019 at 1:16 AM UTC
° ° ☽ ° ° °
° ° °
___________________________
Mar 11, 2019
Mar 11, 2019 at 4:28 AM UTC
As children, we are told to be a Beowulf.
To be brave and to put others before ourselves,
To be the strongest and the best,
We are told to be the perfect hero.
In this day and age, it is never really okay to make mistakes, even if they say it is.
We have a drive within us that being the best and the strongest is our only option.
We put the pressure on ourselves to be the Beowulf, which only causes us to wake up the Grendel.
But the real problem is, we are ashamed of that.
We are ashamed of fear, which causes us to act out and create evil.
But when you think about it, what is bravery without fear.
Because the truth is, no one is ever going to be one-hundred percent a Beowulf.
All of us have a little Grendel inside, it’s called being human.
We yell, we scream, we scare each other,
We lie, we cheat, we judge.
We are vicious and hurtful with our words.
At times, we see no light in our hearts,
We let evil win.
We are often so far from perfect.
In fact, the Grendel in me is sometimes more prominent than the Beowulf,
But we have to realize that sometimes, that’s okay.
You see, if not for the Grendel in me, the Beowulf wouldn’t know it’s true strength.
For the Beowulf in me, within all of us, would not fight nearly as hard, because it would have nothing to overcome.
The point isn’t to be ashamed of the Grendel within,
The point is to keep pushing through so the Grendel doesn’t win.
Do not isolate yourself and hide away in the depths of darkness when you can’t seem to find the light.
Find the Beowulf within yourselves,
Embrace it’s fierce loyalty and drive to destroy evil.
Welcome the light within you,
If you do that, you will win the war within yourself.
To all those out there desperately trying to be the hero:
Accept that losing the battle sometimes is okay,
Try your best to win the war,
But do not take on that army alone,
Because the person who fights with no one by their side is bound to lose eventually.
Because how can you be a hero, when you have no one by your side?
Dec 8, 2018
Dec 8, 2018 at 1:13 AM UTC
Cheaply manufactured in India
Its fake marbled cover fakier than ever
But not as fakey as this assignment
“Grendl symbolizes existential…”
Cross out cross out crossoutcrossoutcrossout
“Grendl symbolizes…” my senior year
Nobody understands why I don’t want
To go to college, why I quit the band -
Grendl and I are both exiles, okay…?
Cross out cross out crossoutcrossoutcrossout
I love my fountain pen; its deep, dark lines
Just like me
Refuse to be MLA marginalized
“Grendl symbolizes…”
Aug 13, 2018
Aug 13, 2018 at 4:12 PM UTC
There once was a man named Beowulf
Who was fiercer than a demon or werewolf
Except that he had a flaw
A dragon made him mortally sore
This prologue is prophetic
To the ending of this epic
So I’ll tell you more
Beowulf made his mind up at twenty-three
He would race his friend to swim across the sea
But fighting many sea monsters is quite trial
Beowulf only caught up in the final mile
Poor Beowulf, fierce as a werewolf
His equal would be hard to find
Though Breca nearly beat him
He managed to defeat him
But he would make up his mind
Beowulf made his mind up in his head
He would battle Grendel until one was dead
But even though his strength could cause a lot of harm
Beowulf only severed Grendel’s left arm
Poor Beowulf, fierce as a werewolf
His equal would be hard to find
Though Grendel he had saddened
Beowulf wasn’t gladdened
And he would make up his mind
Beowulf made his mind up then and there
He’d **** Grendel’s mother in her watery lair
Although the angry tarn-hag had put up a fight
Both monsters were beheaded that very night
Poor Beowulf, fierce as a werewolf
His equal would be hard to find
He took a child and mother
Like Cain had killed his brother
But he had made up his mind
Beowulf made his mind up when he was old
To slay a raging dragon of whom he’d been told
But Beowulf couldn’t deal with the dragon’s fire
And he was later burned atop a funeral pyre
Poor Beowulf, fierce as a werewolf
His equal would be hard to find
He once was a great hero
And now his worth is zero
But he would make up his mind
Feb 4, 2016
Feb 4, 2016 at 1:34 PM UTC
TWANG TWANG TWANG
Oh how the twang of man’s harp
Disrupts my precious sleep.
TWANG TWANG TWANG
It’s never put at rest,
“Control yourself,” I thought.
TWANG TWANG TWANG
My rage grew deep,
I could hear them laugh at me, already an outcast in this young world.
TWANG TWANG TWANG
Somehow, almost as if I were possessed,
I began to **** them one by one.
TWANG TWANG TWANG
Night by night the casualties grew,
I couldn’t control myself, it’s a demon’s curse.
TWANG TWANG TWANG
I kept killing them,
Until the final night.
TWANG TWANG TWANG
The young hero pulled out my arm
And raised it up in a bitter-sweet victory.
TWANG TWANG TWANG
Away I ran into my lair
What have I done?
TWANG TWANG TWANG
Was this the pain I inflicted on man?
The pain was throbbing and strong, like no pain I had ever felt.
Finally the world went black.
The twang was gone.
At peace I will lay forever.
I hope mother won’t make the same mistake.
Jan 18, 2016
Jan 18, 2016 at 4:49 PM UTC