The White Raven and the Black Lion

Before I began working in Old Icelandic, I wrote poems in the Old Norse style in English.  This poem was written in 2008, specifically for the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronisms).  It is to honor the Khalek Shuraag Od and Branwyn ferch Gwyther, who were King and Queen of AEthelmearc in 2008.   The title comes from her given name, which roughly means “White Raven”, and his fighting style, which resembles a cat stalking his prey.

It is written in an English version of dróttkvætt,  without the internal partial rhyme in the odd-numbered lines.  It is also in the form of a “dance”, with the two, beast & bird, slowly circling one another, then meeting, then joining.

Deep woods flash with flight's blur

Fleet bird snow clad goes free

ring tree's laughter light fills

Lonely soul with full heart

Bright war eagle's eyes shine

Artless maiden gazes

Flees from happy homestead

Hunts she harts for heart's ease

Shadow lurking lion

Lets no eye bespy him

Keeps his guard against all

Guileful beast lord seeks foes

Climb tree stalks the stalwart

Stag through darkened lark homes

Sharp claws flash stop fleet deer

Flight of elder elk ends

Eagle's stand goes stoney

Still gold-tree swift sees all

white warhawk's new heart sings

Hope her soul now full fills

Elk bane tenses turning

Tilts his eyes to spy her

Raven crined crouches

creeping preyward flay-claw

Silent daring death moves

Doom's dark gaze amazes

Rises high to hold fast

Hawk-wing  hastens day's end

Thor's hawk silent sights him

Sighing gold-tree boldly

Meets his gold orb's gaze and

Gains his heart with dart's sting

Turns then white-clad warhawk

Whispers peace to beast-lord

Sudden still he stands to

Stay by light-wing's right hand

Calms his blood-lust blazing

Blessed love discovers

Soft-paw gently joins

Joyous partner's heart song

Black-lord rises rightly

Ring-tree's sweet song greets all

Full of pride and power

Pleasing music soothes 

Gold-tree lightly laughing

Lion's soaring roar calls

Brazen rounds of Royals

Ring their brows and rouse cheers

Come now Hearth-lords high-born

Hill folk wending 'tend them

Praise all Branwyn Bright-eyes

Bringing joyous noises

Noble Khalek Khan now

Crowns his love above all

Good folk all round exult

Aethling Crowns resounding

NOTES:

The first verse is given over to the White Raven, the second to the Black Lion; in the third, the first half belongs to her, the second to him.  The order is reversed in the fourth verse.  In the fidth verse, they alternate couplets: the first and third are hers, the second and fourth are his.  In the sixth verse, they alternate singles lines: hers are # 2, 4, & 5; his are # 1, 3, & 6.  Lines 7 & 8 lead into the final verse which shows both being crowned.  There really are no SCA-related kennings in use here, and very few kennings in general:.  there are a few for woman (ring-tree, gold-tree), cat (soft paw, climb tree, flay claw), raven (Thor’s warhawk, war eagle, hawk wing)