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