The Saxon Vernacular

[Leanne]

The time has come to discuss
the Saxon vernacular attraction
that draws us to words which
puritanical attempts to cleanse
past from present
dismiss as unsuitable
for the poetic palate

And yet, let us consider
Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow,
who, when faced with Grendel’s mother,
might just have let a small syllable
pass his brave lips
to give him greater strength
before he swung his mighty Hrunting blade

Poetry forgets that fuck

Perhaps Harold of Wessex
winning the Battle of Hastings
seeing off the challenge of vile William
– Bill the Dastardly Bastard –
sure that the throne was his when,
turning, he copped an arrow to the eye,
might have uttered that all-purpose Saxon
syllable before he expired in the mud

Poetry forgets that fuck

Maybe Macbeth, fought into a corner
for a crime no man should commit
-- listening to his wife --
desperately offered Macduff
lands, castles, nobility
to which, disdainful, Macduff might have uttered
that all purpose word, coupled with an “off”,
before striking the murderer down

Poetry forgets that fuck

For the sake of sanitation
we are confronted with historical inaccuracy
at every turn of phrase

There are fouler words than fuck
and one is censorship

[billy]

fuck yeah!

[Erthona]

A gut all purpose West Germanic wort! (bloody consonant shifts...thuck!) Although I have never seen anybody go that far out of their way to justify fuck!

[popeye]

Loved it champ! Without a fuck it'd be a lonesome trip, but who the fuck needs censorship!!

[tectak]

The time has come to discuss
the Saxon vernacular attraction
that draws us to words which
puritanical attempts to cleanse
past from present
dismiss as unsuitable
for the poetic palate

And yet, let us consider
Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow,
who, when faced with Grendel’s mother,
might just have let a small syllable
pass his brave lips
to give him greater strength
before he swung his mighty Hrunting blade

Poetry forgets that fuck

Perhaps Harold of Wessex
winning the Battle of Hastings
seeing off the challenge of vile William
– Bill the Dastardly Bastard –
sure that the throne was his when,
turning, he copped an arrow to the eye,
might have uttered that all-purpose Saxon
syllable before he expired in the mud

Poetry forgets that fuck

Maybe Macbeth, fought into a corner
for a crime no man should commit
-- listening to his wife --
desperately offered Macduff
lands, castles, nobility
to which, disdainful, Macduff might have uttered
that all purpose word, coupled with an “off”,
before striking the murderer down

Poetry forgets that fuck

For the sake of sanitation
we are confronted with historical inaccuracy
at every turn of phrase

There are fouler words than fuck
and one is censorship

HRUNTING we will go, HRUNTING we wil go....eeee-iiiiii-addio HRUNTING we will go. Fuck. Spelling miskate....unless you are bloody Beowulf, that is. Tourettes for now. Toodle-pip

[abu nuwas]

'Twas not just the great, Leanne,
But also the little tithingman
Punched by a wayward hayward
And carniters vomiting after stinking meat
All for the sake of the barons,
The barons, yes, and Manor and leet
Whose only other consolation lay,
In the stews of Gropecunt St
Which we prudes must needs today
Call Milton St


(This street is near the posh Barbican, and the place Gissing had for his hacks, in New Grub St. If one wishes to grope, one does not have to go far, however.)

Excellent poem, L. I have for long thought that history is much better thought of through that kind of prism.

[Leanne]

I must visit that street, Abu... though I'll probably wear jeans, I think

Thanks all. Everyone needs a fuck now and then.

[abu nuwas]

I must visit that street, Abu... though I'll probably wear jeans, I think

Thanks all. Everyone needs a fuck now and then.

What made me laugh was that someone thought the best way of covering such shame, was to use the mantle of Milton.

I rather like the old, slightly ribald, but plain-speaking way. In the City, there is Poultry, Cheapside (cheap from As 'shop'), and nearby is Cock St and numerous Cock Taverns. I guess that they derive from either 'cook' (as is still is in Dutch) or just more chicken-stuff. Love Lane was love of the paid kind.

My son in Holland told me a story about a Dutchwoman in a restaurant, speaking of the owner: ''He has very good kok, I think!''

[Erthona]

I'd rather stuff a bird than a chicken!

[billy]

stuff or fuck