We forget how old English really is. English has been around a long time. As a language it goes back over seven hundred years. If we dig further back into Anglo-Saxon, then it is well over a thousand years old. A good poet needs to explore and excavate the vast history of English. In this way, we can mine the deep ore of the language and find the riches that will refresh our writing and poetry. 

To return to the birthplace of English is to recover the nature of this language. There is something earthy about English. The ancient sounds of English come back to us on the waves of distant Anglo-Saxon poetry. 

One particularly ancient form is the Kenning. A kenning is a roundabout metaphor using two closely related images together as one word which names a third thing. Usually the two words used do not name the third thing but rather suggest or hint at it. Look at these examples in Anglo-Saxon.

Whale-road = sea

God’s bright beacon = sun

Ring giver = king

Beowulf = bear (the literal words are: bee and wolf)

In these examples, we see that the two words are associated with the item but do not necessarily name the thing itself. Whales live in the sea and the word road is an image of travel. The way the whale travels through the water is a whale road. This two word metaphor is a poetic way to name the sea.

We still employ kennings in Modern English although we don’t always realize it. This is often where we get common two word names for various things in life. Look at these examples. 

Greasy spoon = downscaled, old diner

Earbuds = small audio speakers

In these examples, we again find the same pattern of metaphorical speaking: two words related to the thing but not necessarily the thing itself. Greasy and spoon are both parts associated with the old diner. Ear and buds are also closely related to the idea of audio speakers but not the thing itself. Once you see this pattern of metaphorical language, you will find lots of other examples in common everyday use.