"The Seafarer," believed to have been written around the 10th-century A.D., is a poignant Old English poem from the Exeter Book which recounts the harrowing yet reflective sea voyages of its narrator, a mere-farer ('sea-traveller'). In the form of a rather forbearing monologue, the speaker intertwines the perils of sea life - ice-cold, towering waves, and the stark loneliness of the sea - with introspective revelations about the human condition and the spiritual journey of the soul.

Much like the philosophical traditions found in ancient Stoicism, the narrator grapples with the hardships of his physical environment as a metaphor for internal, existential struggles, emphasising the virtues of patience and fortitude. Through vivid imagery of the stormy ocean and the isolation of the seafarer, the poem explores themes of perseverance in the face of suffering and the contemplation of mortality, urging a deeper reflection on life’s transient nature and the pursuit of a higher, perhaps heavenly, homeland. This translation is by Burton Raffel, renowned for his highly accessible interpretations of classic Old English works, namely “Beowulf.”

For optimal effect, headphones are greatly encouraged.

Music by /IcelationWorks/

"Thule" and "Last Exit", available to stream on Spotify and Bandcamp:

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/album/6LDRyOzfijrGDTeukg9iaN?si=MDc8SyF2RYSDdIArXbb6JA

Bandcamp:

https://icelationworks.bandcamp.com/album/thule-the-last-exit-to-nowhere

IcelationWorks webzine:

https://icelationworks.com