Swords in Poetry

[VorpelSword]

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand;
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Source: The Random House Book of Poetry for Children (1983)

 

[Triton]

It was the first thing I thought of when I saw your title!

 

[DocJD]

A frog went a-courtin' and he did ride, M-hm, M-hm.
A frog went a-courtin' and he did ride,
Sword and pistol by his side, M-hm, M-hm.

Doc Watson

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Hrunting was the sword given to Beowulf in that epic, and was used in his fight against Grendel's mother.

 

[VorpelSword]

And Beowulf is considered to be an epic poem.

The lyric fragment, " . .sword and pistol by his side . . ." is also found in a song by the Highwaymen I think.

 

[Triton]

As I was goin' over the Cork and Kerry mountains
I saw Captain Farrell and his money he was countin'
I first produced my pistol and then produced my rapier
I said, "Stand and deliver, or the devil he may take you!"
Musha ring dum a doo dam a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o
I took all of his money and it was a pretty penny
I took all of his money and I brought it home to Molly
She swore that she'd love me, never would she leave me
But the devil take that woman, for you know she tricked me easy
Musha ring dum a doo dam a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o
Some men like the fishin' and some men like the fowlin'
Some men like to hear the cannon ball a-roarin'
Me, I like sleepin', 'specially in my Molly's chamber
But here I am in prison, here I am with a ball and chain yeah
Musha ring dum a do dam a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o
And I got drunk on whiskey-o

I like the Metallica version...

 

[Squalembrato]

Flashed all their sabres bare, Flashed as they turned in air Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while All the world wondered. Plunged in the battery-smoke Right through the line they broke; Cossack and Russian Reeled from the sabre stroke Shattered and sundered. Then the rode back, but not Not the six hundred. The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Flashed all their sabres bare, Flashed as they turned in air Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while All the world wondered. Plunged in the battery-smoke Right through the line they broke; Cossack and Russian Reeled from the sabre stroke Shattered and sundered. Then the rode back, but not Not the six hundred. The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Theirs not to make reply
Theirs not to reason why
Theirs but to do and die
And into the valley of death
Rode the six hundred

 

[Triton]

Flashed all their sabres bare, Flashed as they turned in air Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while All the world wondered. Plunged in the battery-smoke Right through the line they broke; Cossack and Russian Reeled from the sabre stroke Shattered and sundered. Then the rode back, but not Not the six hundred. The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Awesome!

 

[Vlade]

And Beowulf is considered to be an epic poem.

The lyric fragment, " . .sword and pistol by his side . . ." is also found in a song by the Highwaymen I think.

Willie Nelson ,Waylon Jennings, and I think Kris Kristofferson or it could have been David Alan Coe.

 

[Legendary_Jarl]

Surprised no one brought this one up:

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.