with lashes of your language-dagger
you’re cutting pieces with your anger-axe
and carve me nicely with your wrangle-scalpel
but when you use your temptress-snake
and softly twirl your honey-fork around
I drink the honeysuckle-chalice nectar
of words and songs of your siren-flute
it might be forked
it might be sharp
but still without your tongue,
silence would be worse
Columbine’s little tongue by Konstantin Somov
Today I run MTB at dVerse for the first time, and my intention is that we should try kennings. Terse metaphores from old Norse poetry. Bar opens at 3 PM EST.
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March 20, 2014
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Very good and different enough to be interesting. Well done.
Thank you .. it’s a fun way of create imagery.
oha… the anger-axe is a painful image…anger can destroy so much… good if there’s enough left when she starts playing her siren-flute… probably i’m not forgiving that easily… smiles
I think sometimes there are few alternatives… Silence is so much worse
Your persona must hooked if he is ready to endure anger and being carved by her sharp tongue! I guess that the fear of loneliness can lead some people to accept things others would never allow.
Indeed.. I think it’s the main reason we accept that whip sometimes
I like this idea Bjorn and I like how you have used it, well done indeed.
Ha.. I hope you come up with great images.
Well it’s a challenge for me.
Ah…so this is a sneak preview…the poem is lovely…I hope to be able to do the dVerse prompt…seems I missed the last one too…by 30 minutes!
I so much hope so
Me too!
Oooh. Love the language-dagger and anger axe. And my tongue twists around your words as I read, adding another dimension. Wonderful images and sentiments.
Ah.. yes it’s fun to create these kennings.. I will have a full article up on dverse later … so ..
nice…your first three lines you use you kennings to really set the tone…nice grit then you move to the other direction…tongue daggers…yes i know them…ha…and love the admission in the end as well…silence would be worse…
ah.. yes I can see after reading yours and other entries that this will be a fun prompt.
I did enjoy your masterful use of kennings, Bjorn. A fun prompt! You’ve created a vivid picture of this temptress who despite her effective use of tongue-daggers knows how to use her talents to allure!
Ah.. such is the allure of language..
your metaphors in this are very visual and striking. Looking forward to learning more about kennings when the bar opens today!
Ha. yes it’s a fun tool to play with with.. but I’m very new to it as well.
Very different and enchanted if warily so. Imagery is stunning.
I love the impact of this piece, is there nothing you cannot do. Can’t wait for you to do a book of your poems.
Ah we’ll see about a book…
language-dagger, anger-axe, temptress-snake – loved all the effect Bjorn. Thanks for introducing me to kennings.
Intense – with little touches of levity – that reassure: our browbeaten fellow is far from knuckling under and can still launch a few barbs of his own (“it might be forked – it might be sharp”). Cool writing.
What a tongue that has got to be… Wondrous writing. I really liked it. 🙂
Ooh, now this is a marvellous challenge and a great inspiration, Bjorn. I’ll be along later…. 🙂
Yes, silence can be the most powerful weapon, can’t it? I really love these kennings!
What a wondrous turnout over here already, brother. Your MTB prompt really stoked my creative furnaces, and I spent hours researching before whelping an epic poem; so nice to see you clear, concise illustration of kennings; a first time cherry-boy effort for me; but like others, it seems to be a device I have already employed without understanding its nature or history.
“Language-dagger,” “anger-axe,” “wrangle-scalpel”–wow! Even with her “siren-flute”, her array of weaponry is enough to leave a boy-toy a quivering over-powered coward. Very successful use of words, Bjorn, I particularly like the phrase “softly twirl your honey-fork around” following “temptress-snake” –great imagery.
I specially like the first stanza with the pairings of language-dapper, etc ~ This is a good contrast to second stanza of siren-flute ~ A lovely exercise on creativity ~ Thanks Bjorn ~
ah…i think you just gave me inspiration for my next poem! thanks for the prompt, bjorn!
i enjoyed your assignment, bjorn, and it was your line, “silence could be worse” that inspired me to use the kenning “silence-sword” in my poem…thank you!
Says Arlecchino to Columbine! GGosh, before I realized the characters, I actually thought this headed toward the erotic.
I loved the second stanza… twirling her honey-fork… kinda makes makes me think of having something that isn’t good for you, but still, it just tastes so damn good. ha
Wow, Bjorn, I saw that prompt at dverse and man, did you nail it! The last stanza, whew. Great all around. Amy
Totally cool!
but still without your tongue,
silence would be worse
That is right. There has to be a response which whatever way! Wonderful write Bjorn!
Hank
vivid and strong, these new words really worked
So many movies flashed through my head when I read this, murders, knifes slashing. Loved your kennings and I have not heard the term before. How our younger can be venomous at times, but the allure still there, that’s how I read it anyway ..smiles
Goodness…I had no idea you were this interesting Bjorn! :)Great poem and great prompt.
Fun kenning..and sad as I remember times when that was so true…
Yikes..well..the women folks around these parts do not seem clever enough to pull this off..but perhaps i am not coming across..’that’ one yet..
I’m thinking female psychopath when i read these words..i’m sure they exist..but as of yet..i do not see one in REAL LIFE..but nah..i will avoid the blade..AND forked tongue..if i meet a girl like this..one day..;)
haha…you wrote this one SOOO well for the prompt, i love all these whimsical words and descriptions. i do believe you have inspired me to give this one a go! 🙂 great work!
stacy lynn mar
http://warningthestars.blogspot.com/
Wow…you have so many kennings…wordmaster. Great write. I love the anger-axe too. Know it well.
Wickedly biting, and barbed, but alluring, her words can be. I love this. Reminds me of how oddly attractive my wife can be when she’s angrily telling me where to go and how to get there.
Subtle, yet in the reader’s face, this poem is. I really enjoyed reading it.
I love how you ended this. Silence would be so much worse indeed, it can be so cruel.
Clever Kennings–“language-dagger” and “honey-fork” are my faves. I like how this starts with “lashing” and ends up being a little love note….smiles.
Hah, Bjorn! You use kannings in every-day-talk for sure! 🙂
So much fun, Bjorn! I really enjoyed your Meeting the Bar prompt and your poem is awesome. At least when she’s talking there is a chance to work something out. Silence is just that, silent.
Reblogged this on Bastet and Sekhmet's Library and commented:
masterfully done!
strong imagery, language-dagger, angry-axe and interesting ending
very musical!
Ha! You are one of the rare few who prefers the chatter to silence. 🙂 I like your kennings here. They evoke sharp images, no pun intended. 🙂