How the Fallen Stood

The sparks fly upward to the dying light We sit in silence on the edge of fight To those who carried iron in their hands Who laid their bones down in forgotten lands To all our kindred sleeping in the loam Who held the gap so others made it home We speak your names into the rising smoke Beneath the shadow of this ancient oak Better warriors have gone before our stride They walked the ridge, they stood the bitter tide They leave their marrow in the linden wood To teach the living how the fallen stood To hearth-keepers who kept the embers red Who spun the wool and broke the honest bread Who watched the shoreline through the autumn rain And bore the quiet burden of the pain Your hands were soft, your will was unbowed stone You built the hall where we were raised and grown No blade was drawn, no bloody deed was praised Yet by your fire every one was raised Better warriors have gone before our stride They walked the ridge, they stood the bitter tide They leave their marrow in the linden wood To teach the living how the fallen stood Hear us, Lord Tyr Allfather Odin, bear sight Thor of the storm, brace our arms for the fight Vanadís, look on the blood and the breath Give iron sinew to conquer the death We ask no promise of the morrow's sun No coward's barter till the day is done Let courage anchor in the marrow deep A sacred honor that our blood will keep We vow to live with courage in the chest To guard our kindred and honor the rest To walk with honor till the thread is spun And stand unyielding till the day is done Witness the oath! Witness the flame We hold the line in the forebearers' name Better warriors have gone before us We honor their steel which does not rust We remember the shattered shield wood We remember how the fallen stood