Old Rivals

A strange sight was spotted on the north coast,
Where the boatman would settle and boast
Of the sights they have seen on this damp autumn night.
What indeed was this strange sight?

The longboats hugged the bank so tight,
The seabirds dancing at a windy height.
The shields glimmered against the water’s edge,
As the mountains hosted the sea’s pledge.
Both land and sea would meet on occasion,
The sea usually taking a little more persuasion.
But when the tide is right
And the moon is bright
Then the waves would stand up and bite.

The land would often make the sea mad,
Shouting curses through the wind so bad,
The sea would respond and smash the cliffs
Eroding its legs so glad!

The land would speak to the sea and call
Pushing it away then back it would crawl.
Kind words it would say and bring it hence
Giving it rewards at the sea’s expense.

The sea told the land it could never win,
‘Surrounded always’ it said with a grin.
And so the land would get angry and throw fire
From its mountains higher and higher
Shouting and rumbling “LIAR! LIAR!”

But soon, after years of squabble and rage,
The two brothers halted the fighting stage,
The sea would brush the shore with sweet words
And everyone was content, the land, the trees, the birds.