that was a good king!

his people love him, but still, there's no son
to stand with Beowulf against the worm
the thanes devour his board, but quit and run
against such terror, no man's knees are firm
now, only Wiglaf's doing the right thing
of all who swore they serve at his command
a piddling army for the great Geat king
to fend off devastation from the land
from savior to martyr, he's complete
while still alive, he's half-way deified
while bards still sing the praises of this Geat
it's just his earthly trappings that have died
the dragon proved the hero's grimmest foe
but death in battle's the grand way to go