Wallace's Childhood Poem

David Foster Wallace was a writer of gigantic interest, energy and appetite in the manner of Pynchon. His best known work was the 1996 novel, “Infinite Jest.” He was a brilliant, sad man. He wrote this poem about Vikings when he was six or seven:

Vikings oh! They were so strong
Though there warriors won’t live so long.
For a long time they rode the stormy seas.
Whether there was a great big storm or a little breeze.
There ships were made of real strong wood
As every good ship really should.
If you were to see a Viking today
It’s best you go some other way.
Because they’d kill you very well
And all your gold they’ll certainly sell
For all these reasons stay away
From a Viking every day.