tu pater es, rerum inventor, tu patria nobis suppeditas praecepta, tuisque ex, inclute, chartis, floriferis ut apes in saltibus omnia libant, omnia nos itidem depascimur aurea dicta…Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, Bk. 3, ll. 9-12
You are our father, the discoverer of truths, you supply us with a father's precepts, from your pages, illustrious man, as bees in the flowery glades sip all the sweets, so we likewise feed on all your golden words
So much depends on the bees. I was working in the yard Monday and they were right there beside me, hitting up the wild flowers. We blissfully ignored one another, being careful to keep our respective distances: the bees, from my hoe; me, from their stings. As I watched them, my mind wandered and this poem was born.
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| Bý-tár | Bee's-tears | Prose Order |
|---|---|---|
| Engis gulla augar óð-rærs hæna smyrill; fluga-stinga súpa sæta mjölk-blóms læ-víss. Vængar með höggvanda vínsvelgr fljóta til býhus Þer hunangs ymr-þjuða þrek-liga stemma lækr-gull Birti-gulla bý-tár bekkr dam-stæð leka játir bara-jastars yndi-ligr bekkr vinds-gnýr. Hrannir út hann dynjað Hárs á saltunnu skáldit siglað Óðinns segjað skald-skipit ok öl-hrönn |
Meadow golden-eyes wisdom-raiser attract hawk; fly-sting sips sweet milk-bloom liquor-wise. Wings with staggering drunkard floats to beehouse; there honey buzzing-tribe strongly stems stream-gold. Bright-gold bee-tears brook dam-yard leaks yields wave-yeast Charming brook squalling. waves out of which poured Hárs onto hall-barrel the skald sails Odin´s speaks skald´s ship and ale-wave. |
The meadow's golden eyes attract the hawk of wisdom-raiser; stinging-fly sips sweet intoxicating flower´s milk. With staggering wings drunkard floats to beehive The buzzing tribe there honey golden streams stems strongly. Dam-yard leaks a brook of bright-gold bee-tears; charming brook yields to squally yeast-wave which pours into the waves of Hárs hall-barrel [and] into the skald [who] sails the skald's ship and speaks Odin´s ale-wave |
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Kennings Used:
engis augar > eyes of the meadow > wildflowers
óðörærs smyrill > hawk of the wisdom raiser > hawk of nectar > bee
mjölk-bloms > milk of the flowers > nectar
bý-tár > bee's tears > honey
dam-stæði > dam-yard > honey-comb
bara-jastars > yeast-wave > mead
hrannir Hárs saltunnu > waves of Hár´s (Óðinn´s) hall-barrel > mead
skald-skipit > the skald-ship > dreams
Óðinns öl-hrönn > Ódinn's ale-wave > poetry
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Please, now that you've read the poem, leave me a comment on it. Here are the three questions:
1. What did you like about this poem?Finally, a shout out to Dr Beverliey Braune, whose excellent blog, Musings on skáldic poetry is a constant inspiration to me. Thank you, Dr. Braune.
2. What would you change about this poem?
3. What else would you like to learn?
Enjoy!
Fridrikr
I like the imagery of the bee's as hawks and drunkards floating home. I like this whole poem.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the rhythm of the poem (ideas, not meter) changes for the second stanza so the first stays with me more.
I am learning by reading at this point. I appreciate the explanation of the kennings.
Thanks!
The notion of moving from bees in the flowers through the honey in the hive and the honey in the mead to the skald's poetry was with me from the beginning. I hoped the break between verses wouldn't be too jarring. I understand what you're saying, though. I guess I'd say, "to each his own...."
ReplyDeleteThanks for continuing to read and comment!