The Black Lake

Thirty winters with axe and shield,

I thought I'd seen all the world could yield.

Till I tracked a deer through pine so deep,

To the black lake where the cold waters sleep.

And there she was -

Ragnar's daughter,

gone from the hall,

The one they said would answer

to no man's call.

She was naked in the lake,

alone in the moonlight,

Naked skin on black water,

in the cold air of night.

No shift, no fur,

no gold, no steel,

Just herself, and the water,

and the feeling is real.

I SAW HER NAKED IN THE LAKE!

And I have never been the same!

Moon on her shoulders,

mist on the water!

She owned nothing, yet owned her name!

I saw her naked

in the lake!

And my armor felt like a chain!

She wasn't hiding.

She wasn't ashamed.

She wasn't bathing for any man to name.

She floated there,

naked in the lake,

Like it was her birthright,

not a thing to take.

My brothers would have hooted,

would have stared like dogs,

I put my hand over my mouth and stayed behind

the logs. Because some things aren't for taking,

some things are just to see,

And be humbled by.

I'VE SEEN KINGS NAKED WHEN WE STRIPPED THEM OF GOLD!

I'VE SEEN MEN NAKED WHEN THE WINTER TOOK HOLD!

BUT I NEVER SAW FREEDOM

- TILL I SAW HER NAKED IN THE LAKE!

Now when young warriors ask me what is strong,

I don't tell them of battles,

thirty winters long.

I tell them I once saw a soul truly free,

Naked in the lake,

where no man could make her kneel,

Naked in the lake,

and more whole than any man in

steel.

She was naked

in the lake - And the lake did not judge.

She was naked

in the lake - And

the gods did not grudge.

She was naked

in the lake - And I finally understood