Leslie Fish - Valhalla

^AmSigurd was an ^COdin man, the ^Glast of Pagan Kind for ^Dchurchmen ruled the country side, and ^Amall men they could f^Gind. But ^CSigurd prayed to ^FOdin God with ^Gheart and soul and ^Emind in ^Chopes that ^Ghe would reach Val^Fhalla. ^Am

^AmSigurd died in ^Cbattle crying ^GOdin to the last bey^Dond the reach of churchmen’s Heaven ^Amhis soul speeded p^Gast But ^Cwhen he reached the ^FBifrost bridge, he ^Gfound the gates barred ^Efast A^Clas, no ^Gentry to Val^Fhalla ^Am

^AmOdin’s voice called ^Cto him then, “The ^Ggate I’ll not unbar! For ^Dwe are under siege, with churchmen’s ^AmHeaven we’re at w^Gar Yet ^CI shall keep my ^Fpledge to you, though ^Gyou must wander ^Efar Still ^CI shall ^Gbring you to Val^Fhalla” ^Am

The ^AmWinds of time took ^CSigurd then and ^Gwhipped him down the years, They ^Dburned away his memories of ^Amlove, and hope, and ^Gfears And ^Cleft him as a ^Fnew born babe whose ^Gforemost cryin’ ^Etears were ^Cfor lost ^Gpromise of Val^Fhalla ^Am

This ^Amage and name fit ^Cill on him, he ^Ggrew to man’s estate a ^Dthoughtful, bookish, lonely lad who ^Amfelt betrayed by ^Gfate who ^Cdreamed, and read, and ^Fof’t regretted ^Ghe was born too ^Elate for the ^CAge of ^GOdin and Val^Fhalla ^Am

Then he ^Amcame upon A^Cnachronists who ^Gkept the ancient skills ^DGladly did he join with them and ^Ampracticed with a ^Gwill For he ^Cfelt an old hope ^Fstirring as ^Ghe persisted ^Estill a ^Clong step ^Gcloser to Val^Fhalla ^Am

He ^Amcalled himself Lord ^CSigurd now, he ^Gdressed in Black Bear skin He ^Dhastened through his duties to his ^Ammundane work and ^Gkin For ^Cin the weekend ^Fcombat he could ^Gfeel the veil wear ^Ethin ‘til it ^Cseemed he could ^Galmost reach Val^Fhalla ^Am

In ^Amtime he won a ^CBaron’s rank, the ^Gfolk bowed down before At ^Dlength a Herald rose and said “Mi^Amlord, you could do ^Gmore. Pray ^Cbring your skills with ^Fus this year out ^Gto the Eastern ^EWar It’s the ^Cnext best ^Gthing to Old Val^Fhalla!” ^Am

So ^AmSigurd went to ^Cwar that year and ^Gstared at what he found The ^Dancient garbed and armored folk, the ^Amclanging battle^Gground The ^Cmarket place, the ^Fmead halls, and the ^Gcampsites sprawling ‘^Eround and he ^Cfelt time ^Gshift him to Val^Fhalla ^Am

For ^Amlook! The warriors ^Cbattled there so ^Gmerrily all day and ^Dmaidens resurrected every ^Amone the strokes would ^Gslay then ^Cat the Mead Hall ^Fthey would feast and ^Gsing the night ^Eaway aahh it ^Cfit all des^Gcriptions of Val^Fhalla ^Am

Twas ^Amtrue, it wasn’t ^Cperfect, there was ^Gwar but twice a year with ^Dlesser revels once a month in ^AmKingdoms far and ^Gnear and ^Call the dreary ^Flesser days the ^Gmundane world was ^Ehere but it was ^Cclose en^Gough to call Val^Fhalla ^Am

Be ^Fcareful what ^Gparadise you ^Amdeal, what ^Chope you make ^Fother dreamers ^Efeel for ^Fif too many ^Chear it, they will ^Cstruggle ^Dmto draw ^Amnear it and ^Dmin the search they just might make it ^Ereal

So ^Amevery war and ^Crevel now go ^Gto the feasting hall and ^Dthere you’ll find a Viking Lord named ^AmSigurd standing ^Gtall And ^Cgiving thanks to ^FOdin for the ^Gpledge kept after ^Eall Singing ^C“Yo Ho ^GWelcome to Val^Fhalla!!” ^Am For ^Cwe have ^Gmade our own Val^Fhalla!!! ^Am For ^Cwe are the ^Gbuilders of Val^Fhalla!!! ^Am