Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Hrafnar Syngja

So, here it is, late June, and I haven't posted in like forever. It has been busy and I have been very distracted by life. Still, things have been in my mind and one of them escaped that dark black pit of despair recently.

As most of you know by know, I'm a resident of the Barony of Thescorre, in the Kingdom of Æthelmearc. The barony's heraldry is "Argent, on a pall azure between three ravens volant sable, a laurel wreath Or."

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In the lore of the barony, the ravens have been named: Hugin, Munin, and Bob (!) - the third raven who does what the other two think of and recall. As the newly appointed Baronial skald, I see it as my duty to instruct the folk of the ravens and how they sing. Thus, the latest poem.

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Old Icelandic Verse Prose Translation
Stef:

Vargǫld syngdu virðiligr
valir axlar aldinn.
Morðarákefð merkvalds
magnið sárgǫgl bragir.

Vísur 1 (af Hugin)

Hugrenning þin hagrádr
hjálms gný aptr kallað:
Ráðagǫrð af róðrvíd
reiðar at leiðadu.
Dýfjarðar fyrðar
fljúgask með tré-konung:
með spakleik þin siklingr
slagr gefa dólgmann.

Verse 2 (af Munin)

Aldinn draumar íllir
ǫrlǫgs brenna knorr-muns
orras hjaldrs eyrendi -
aptir dagstingr minna.
Gefa hásæt gjafar -
gnýr minna fyr dýjarl;
Gefa þiljur gjafar -
geira-mun fyr herjar.

Verse 3 - (af Svart-Rob)

Flǫgrað vígstars fljúga
fjarri ofan merkjum.
Dýfolk fylgdu dagfar
djarfum á gnýs darra.
Drukk af fors horn drekis
drógdu þeima heima;
Sennu vápna syngdu -
sælligr með dýfolk hlæðu.
Stef:

Sing of ancient age of wolves,
worthy hawks of the shoulder.
Best of wound-gulls, you raise
mark-guards' slaughter-rashness.

Verse 1 (about Hugin):

Wise-counselor, your mind's wandering
calls after helmets' din:
Lead you the raiders
to blood-storm counsel-taking.
The warriors of the bog-fjord
fly to battle with Tree-King;
With your wise-play the king
gives his foes defeat.

Verse 2 (about Munin):

Ancient dreams of evil's
doom burn the mind´s ship;
The battle´s blackcock´s errand -
be-minded after day's sting.
Give gifts of din-dreams
to Bog-lord in high-seat
Give gifts of spear-thought
to warriors on benches.

Verse 3 (about Black-Bob):

Fly far above slaughter-
starling's banner fluttering.
Guide the bog-folk bold
on the spear-roar´s journey.
Lead them homeward
drunk on dragon's-horn-wave;
Sing of weapon-quarrels
Laugh with bog-men happy!
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Kennings Used

NOTE: As you know, if you read my blog often, a kenning is a specialized form of metaphor. Ordinarily, I would refer to Thescorre as hrafna heim "Ravens' Home", but in this case, I've changed the base noun to "bog" after the old description on Thescorre as the Barony of the Bog.

Stef:

Vargǫld > age of wolves > WAR
valid axlar > Hawks of shoulder > RAVENS
Morðarákefð > slaughter-rashness > BRAVERY

Verse 1:

Hugrenning > mind's wandering > THOUGHTS
hjálms gný > din of helmets > BATTLE
Ráðagǫrð > counsel-taking > ADVICE, PLANNING
róðrvíd > blood-storm > BATTLE
Dýfjarðar > bog-fjord > THESCORRE (Barony of the Bog)
tré-konung > Tree King > KING OF ÆTHELMEARC
spakleik > wise-play > WISDOM
dólgmann > enemy-men > FOES

Verse 2:

knorr-muns > ship of mind > MEMORY
orras hjaldrs > battle's blackcock > RAVEN
dagstingr > day-sting > DAWN
gnýr minna > din's memory > BATTLE
dýjarl > bog-earl > THESCORRE BARON
geira-mun > spear-memory > BATTLE

Verse 3:

vígstars > slaughter-starling > RAVEN
Dýfolk > bog-army > THESCORRE ARMY
dagfar > day-faring > JOURNEY
gnýs darra > spear roar > BATTLE
fors horn drekis > dragon's horn-wave > BLOOD
Sennu vápna > weapon-quarrel > BATTLE




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In other news, this past weekend, Their Majesties of Æthelmearc, Andreas and Kallista, gave me a writ for elevation to the Order of the Laurel. This document orders me to appear before Their Majesties to be inducted into the order, which is the highest order our "medieval recreation" group offers in the Arts and Sciences. It is a great honor and I thank Their Majesties for Their generosity.




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So, please comment on the poem. I'd appreciate any comments you have.