inspired by "beowulf" is grendel really evil or just perceived as such? maybe he's jealous or lonely because of the cruel world.

the old english/anglo-saxon means "blame the goat." which is what a scapegoat is... in mythology a goat was perceived


grendel

"grendel"

the curl of a bitter lip,
cheek and tongue
the fangs and bite of cold air
and the lake mere burns
welcome to the world you
never chose
ring the bell,
the bell that tolls
for whom?
the damned,
my subjective perspective,
says shush...



scapegoat
tælan gāt


there's a bell ringing
so very faintly...




Poetry by Zachary P. B.
Read 669 times
Written on 2006-09-18 at 22:55

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James Barratt
You've inspired me to read Beowulf! Thanks!
2006-11-06


Lourdes
you clever lille djevel
2006-10-16


R.
What a bunch of malarky! It took me ten years to actually add a comment to this poem.

Awesome. Never has a student captured the humanity in grendel. Thank you for a different perspective. Poor goats...
2006-10-16


Arti
You're a lovable bub, my dear leprechaun!
I love the story of Beowulf and Grendel, although I never had it as a part of school reading (good thing too, or I might not have paid attention to what I was reading).
Poor Grendel... Ugliness has always been construed to mean badness. Ever notice, every villian, irrespective of language, is ugly and has macabre tastes? Wonder why.... And the hero is always handsome and beautiful and righteous and perfect...

Haha, another rambling comment to add to your collection of rambling, bumbling thoughts from me....
Take care, and hope school's treating you well... :)
Keep writing, keep laughing
2006-09-19


Kathy Lockhart
such vivid images you have created in this very intelligent piece. It is full of deep thinking and incites reflection into ourselves...our beliefs, judgement, etc. The ending is leading and opened which in turn leads to deeper thinking. Excellent! xx kathy
2006-09-19


keith nunes
very haunting and eerie and you make an excellent point!
2006-09-18