"Beowulf spoke again, uttered some boast-words
for the last time:

          "I dared many a fight in my youth;     again as an old
protector of the people,     I'll seek out conflict,
and earn some glory,     if this mankiller
will come out to me       from his earth-hall."

     Then he addressed     every man,
the bold helmet-wearers,   his close comrades,
for the last time:

          'I wouldn't be taking
a sword to the dragon,     if I knew
how else I might     with that monster
get a fighting grip,     as with Grendel before,
but here I'm expecting    hot battle-flames,
bad breath and venom;    therefore I carry
a shield and mail-shirt.     And I won't go back
one foot from the worm,   but at the mound
we two will fare    as Fate decrees,
every man's Master.' "

~ Excerpt from The book of beowulf, Michael Walton, 2007.

Note:  Mike Walton will be in The Neat L'l Bookshop on Thursday, February 21 at 1:00 p.m.  It's informal.  All are welcome.  Circle your calendar. "Coffee pot's always on..."

"A Great Read'
"I have read and studied Beowulf in the original, and thought no translation could do the poem justice.  This one does.  Walton has found the drumbeat of the Dark Ages and brought it into a new modern poem.  aficionados of dragons, ring bearers and sword-wielding heroes will find a direct linguistic connection to the original story of Beowulf." ~ Steve Matthews, Stone Mason, York, ON