arnsaxa watched the herd, concerned,
As birth-time came upon the does.
Her fears, at length, were all confirmed:
They’d birthed no males by season-close.

She pulled the boy aside and said,
“It’s time, young man, for you to leave,
The herd will not long keep us fed.
No stags were born, I now perceive,

“And winter culls the weak and old.
But there is hope. Today, I spied
A dragon inlaid all in gold
With silver runes along its sides.

“It sits upon a fine ship’s prow,
Just landed on our island’s shore.
‘Tis proud, this bark, from stern to bow,
A gift from Odin¹, Freyr², or Thor³.

“Above it stands a gilded mast,
Below, a keel of one stout tree.
With not a warp, its boards are fast
Against the sea’s capricities.

“The Summer’s rule is near its height
But Winter’s sway is quick behind.
The Old Man locks the sea-door tight,
Thus, you must leave ere solstice-time.

“You’ve stocked our larder well with deer
We’ve cured against the frozen reign.
There’s now enough to last two years
If I and Grimhild both remain.

“The trials of the wind and wave
Could not be borne by such as we.
They are designed for young and brave --
A fact with which you’ll soon agree.

“I don’t send you away for long,
Just two short years, at very most.
Remember, you are tall and strong,
You shall not lack for willing hosts.

“You’ll have two years to gather fame
And build your fortune ‘midst those kings
Who’ll shower you with loud acclaim
And gird you all in golden things.

“The winds will soon begin to rise
And fill the sheet upon that bark.
But first, you must bid your goodbyes
To she who holds you in her heart.”

The young man ran back to his home
And told his mother his intent
To set out on the road of foam,
Much to his mother’s sore lament.

As Grimhild dabbed unbidden tears
She said to Signar, “Yes, I know,
You cannot stay and wither here.
I wish you did not need to go.

“But you must leave to seek your fate,
And time with you is growing short.
A fair wind won’t be made to wait
When calling one to distant ports.

“But now I look back, with regret,
How things unsaid are acts unkind.
There’s much I need to tell you yet,
The foremost thing comes to my mind:

“You’ve never known your father’s name;
I’ve kept it locked away from you.
I laid on him much curse and blame
But never named him for I knew

“You’d need to treat him with respect
If ever you should cross his path.
It’s you I wanted to protect --
You’d be no match against his wrath.

“That knowledge will remain suppressed
Despite the question that must burn
Like molten metal in your breast.
The answer waits ‘til your return.

“Now please, I ask you, use all haste,
It's time to set yourself to roam.
The time you dally here you waste,
Delaying when you'll come back home.”

Goodbyes reached their finality
And Signar left his mother's side.
Upon the verge of land and sea
He waited for the coming tide.

The tide uprose, a strong wind blew
To take away the life he'd known.
Soon, Iceland faded out of view
And Signar sailed the waves alone.