# 101 - Nýjárs ríma

This is my last post of 2012. And it also is my One-hundred-first posting on this blog!

As is appropriate for the occasion, a New Year's poem is in order. This one is ríma. t has a couple of Icelandic New Year's eve beliefs: that seals walk and cow talk on New Year's Eve.

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Old Norse Verses	Poetic Translation
Er brim hrosta flóa ok orðabelgar hjlóa Er selahúðir ganga ok barri ulfa hanga Er Fjósakarlar skína ok slefumæltr kollar inna Þá ek til ølfrændr drekka ok ríð á nýjárs brekka	When the malt wave flows and the word-bag roars when the seal-skins walk and wolves' barley hangs when the byre-karls shine and drawling cows perform Then I to ale-friends drink and sway on new year´s brink

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Kennings and Images Used

brim hrosta > malt wave > ALE
orðabelgar > word-bag > DRUNKARD
selahúðir > seal-skins > SEAL FETCHES
barri ulfa > wolves' barley > CORPSES
Fjósakarlar > byre-karls > ORION'S BELT
slefumæltr kollar > drawling COWS


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Sólmyrkvi: Lausavísur on the recent solar eclipse

I am often in search on inspiration and, as a recent pizza ad says, "the answer is in the stars" (or in this case, the skies over the Southern hemisphere). I wrote the following verse on the occasion of the solar eclipse this past autumn. In it I incorporated several Norse myths about the sun. The usual pattern here, two verses plus English poetic translations, followed by a key to the kennings and heiti used.

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Old Norse Verses	Poetic Translation
Hyrrinn brenna heiðs hnoðrum skýa á ǫski en alskíra himins eltask ártali skarptoski. Skjaldar himna Skǫlli skapthár flýgr frá bólginn. Ljósgim fengit lastvarr ljómandi hafði faststar.	Fire of the clear-sky burns sky-fleece to ashes, but year-counter sharp-toothed chases heaven's all-bright. The shaft-high heaven's shield flees from Skǫll wrath-swollen. Hard-eyed Gleamer captured guileless light-jewel.

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Kennings and Heiti Used

Hyrrinn brenna heiðs > Fire of clear sky > SUN
hnoðrum skýa > sky-fleece > CLOUDS
alskíra himins > heaven's all-bright > SUN
ártali skarptoski > sharp-toothed year-counter > MOON
Skjaldar himna skapthár > Shaft-high heaven's shield > SUN AT DAWN
Skǫlli bólginn > Skulker swollen > MOON
Ljósgim lastvarr > guileless light-gem > SUN
ljómandi faststar > Hard-eyed Gleamer > MOON

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Like It! Love It! Got Questions?


You can leave comments below or send me E-Mail

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May the Jólabál burn brightly in your heart!

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Tolftinn Sǫngr (The Song of Twelve) NOW WITH A RECORDING!

NOTE: This is a reposting with an added recording.

A very good friend of mine and great story-teller, Mistress Morgana Bro Morganwg, tells an inspiring tale of Jarl Haakon and his skald, Haukr. In the tale, the skald "stands in two worlds" - the world of man as well as that of the gods - and can sense things beyond the ken of mortal man.

In the tale, Haukr sings a battle song which so moves the valkyrie, Orðtrúaðr "Word-believer", that she spares the lives of Haakon and his men, and kills the Jarl's traitorous brother, instead.

In the poem I have written, I have imagined that song. The song is written in ríma, a "non-skaldic" form that can only be found at Óláfs ríma Haraldssonar. As I said in a previous post, this verse form seems to feature

• four lines to a verse
• six to eight syllable in each line
• alliteration in odd-to-even lines
• a rhyme scheme of abab

I have tried to follow that form as closely as possible in this poem.

Since I wrote this poem, THL Emer nic Aidan, a good friend from Toronto, and an amazing talent in her own right, has helped me find my musical "voice". Because of her inspiration, I have put Tolftinn Sǫngr to music. The music is based on the ancient Danish song, Drømde mik en drøm i natt which may be found at Viking Songs.

You can hear Tolftinn Sǫngr here:

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Old Norse Verses

Poetic Translation

Gæzku-fullr jarl gǫfgastr - glaðar eyðendr geimar - til frænda vartu trúfastr ok trǫlltrygða til þín beimar Drengi hôr hringdrífr hjalmôru þín leiddir fylgdu banar-hlifa til bardaga, hrafngreddir Koma lát sigrmeyjar sálur vár úpskera! af vár skjaldum linna lœblandinn dauð úpsnara! Blétuð karlaskar fjándum með jafnan kappi miklu ok Æsir yfir lóndum at yndi eggmôts bliku. Er kallaði bróðir utan ef broddrjóðr kvaddi spjarrar tólfir komu þeir, sversbjóðr. Koma lát sigrmeyjar sálur vár úpskera! af vár skjaldum linna lœblandinn dauð úpsnara! At þín boði ríða borðhesti heiptfíkinn of ferla flausta, greiða Móða-flein fulbluíkinn. Á hjarta lagar, gjaf mildr, á meðal tolftinn stóttú - á útstrǫnd sendina, skyldir, gnístinn svikdóms fráttu. Koma lát sigrmeyjar sálur vár úpskera! af vár skjaldum linna lœblandinn dauð úpsnara! Hríðkǫttr kallar frændum ásjá þín hverr beðit en kǫttar sonr snuízk í fjándum ok seimtýnir forréðit. Hverfa þú hringstríði tolftinn ulfgœðendr; Jarl Þú ert í fríði með Þín fleinhristendr! Koma lát sigrmeyjar sálur vár úpskera! af vár skjaldum linna lœblandinn dauð úpsnara!

Gracious faithful jarl - clearer of seas horses - faithful to your kinsmen and to your men troll-true. Gallant lofty ring-strewer led you helmet envoys - banes of shield walls followed to battle, raven-feeder. Let the victory-maidens Ours souls come to harvest! From our shield-snakes raging, let death ensnare the traitors! Enemies' souls you offered Aesir with great zeal whose love of edge storm shone upon you, brave land-ruler. When called to you your brother point reddener without doubt you summoned twelve spears to you came they soon, sword-greeter. Let the victory-maidens Ours souls come to harvest! From our shield-snakes raging, let death ensnare the traitors! At your bidding, Jarl, journeys plankhorse mighty; sped across the ship's path, Móða's spear full-gleaming. Stood you on water´s heart-beam with dozen open-handed- on sea-strand, troop obliger, treason's snarling heard you. Let the victory-maidens Ours souls come to harvest! From our shield-snakes raging, let death ensnare the traitors! Snowcat called you kinsman who begged for your protection but foeman turned the cat's-son betrayed you, gold-destroyer. Surrounded you ring-harmer the dozen bold wolf-feeders; Safely kept my Jarl Your kinsmen, all spear shakers! Let the victory-maidens Ours souls come to harvest! From our shield-snakes raging, let death ensnare the traitors!

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Kennings Used

sigrmeyjar > the victory-maidens > VALKYRIES
skjaldar linna > snakes of the shield > SWORDS
lœblandinn > the baleful > TRAITORS
glaðar eyðendr geimar > clearer of the horses of the sea > clearer of ships > SEA-WARRIOR, JARL
trǫlltrygða > troll-true > loyal til death > FAITHFUL MAN, JARL
hringdrífr > ring-strewer > RULER, JARL
hjalmôru > helmet envoys > WARRIORS
hrafngreddir > raven-feeder > WARRIOR, JARL
eggmôts > edge-storm > BATTLE
broddrjóðr > point reddener > WARRIOR, JARL
spjarrar tólfir > spears twelve > TWELVE WARRIORS
sversbjóðr > sword greeter > WARRIOR RULER, JARL
borðhesti > plankhorse > SHIP
ferla flausta > ship's path > SEA
Móða-flein > Móða's spear > WARSHIP
hjarta lagar — ‘the heart of the water' > ISLAND
gjaf mildr > open-handed, generous > JARL
skyldir > obliger > COMMANDER, JARL
gnístinn svikdóms > snarling of treason > TRAITORS
kǫttar sonr > cat's son > BASTARD
seimtýnir > Gold-destroyer > JARL

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Thanks for reading this long poem. I hope/plan to write two more: a song of Orðtrúaðr and an elegy for the Jarl, but they will have to wait for now. Please, leave me comments on this poem, either in the comments box below or send them to me.

Valkyrjars Sǫng

This poem is intended as a companion piece to a tale told by Mistress Morgana Bro Morganwg of Jarl Haakon and his skald, Haukr. In the tale, the Valkyries, led by Orðtruðr (“word-trust”), spare the Jarl and his men, while destroying their foes. This happens because of the war-song Haukr sings. I've heard and admired the tale; it is one of my favorites. Since neither Hauk´s song nor the Valkyries' song appears in the tale, I have made bold to imagine them.

The form is a variant of togmælt [journey-spoken] with four-to-five syllables per line, alliteration, half-rhymes, and full-rhymes as in dróttkvætt. The shortness of the lines makes the rhythm and rhymes work together more completely. You can find an example from Snorri here.

A careful reader will note that three verses are different from the others in their rhyme scheme. I freely admit to having borrowed them from the Eddaic poem, Darraðarljóð, a poem quoted in Njals Saga, chapter 156. It describes the Valkyries as weavers of man's fate.

Now you can hear it:

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Old Norse Verses

Poetic Translation

Ríðum stríðum strjúka á fljúgjask Sigbragnum þegna þáttu kvattú. Gengr hildr vefa ok hjǫrþrimul sangríðr svipul sverðum svipul skapt mun gnesta skjöldr mun bresta mun hjálmgagarr í hlíf koma. Orðtruð herjarn orrust hjǫrtu til Freyja borit með blóði gollin. Rǫgnis valdrǫs reið um leiðir á býskips systr skeiðbrimi fimmtandi Ríðum stríðum strjúka á fljúgjask Sigbragnum þegna þáttu kvattú. Geðum heiðrs Þungra hungrað - skalt vera berþrek blóðkorgr bǫðvar. Hjálmtrjám dómsorð hæfa hafstrandar. fara til skera framast malmrunnum Reyfarar ríða rafstráit of hafstrǫnd veiðifúss at líkar líflauss ok drífvit. Haukr heyrðr hrylling frýja hildar hjaldr hinkrask, blindandi. Ríðum stríðum strjúka á fljúgjask Sigbragnum þegna þáttu kvattú. Vindum vindum vef darraðar þar er vé vaða vígra manna látum eigi líf skalds britast eigu valkyrjur vals um kosti. Svika þær tók svartast hjartu bálfjandar til helvítis blak vatt gata! Snefga gǫfgað vítskáld Valmey - hljómr líðinn hollr ok gólligr. Ríðum stríðum strjúka á fljúgjask Sigbragnum þegna þáttu kvattú.

Ride to battle! Join the blood-song! Sing of Victory Chieftain's thegns! Go they weaving with swords drawn Hild and Hjorthrimul, Sanngrid and Svipul. Spears will shatter shields will splinter, Swords will gnaw like wolves through armor. Ortrudr warlike warriors' hearts with golden blood to Freyja carries. Slaughter goddess rides the hawks' paths on bee-ship's surf-steed summons sisters. Ride to battle! Join the blood-song! Sing of Victory Chieftain's thegns! Þungra hungers for honor's souls - shall be bear-bold battle's blood-dregs. To sea-strands helm-trees doom-words mete we; go to mow down boldest sword-trees. Above seastrand ambered Ride the rievers hunt for bodies snow white lifeless. Haukr hears she horrors cursing battle's Hildr halts, she staring. Ride to battle! Join the blood-song! Sing of Victory Chieftain's thegns! Wind we now the web of war where warrior banners are forging forward. Harvest we not bright skalds' spirit Valkyries only choose the slain. Took they then the traitors black hearts pyrefiends to Hel's black gates hurled. Blessed then Valmey wit-skald swiftest gliding song-voice true and joyful. Ride to battle! Join the blood-song! Sing of Victory Chieftain's thegns!

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Kennings:

Rǫgnis valdrǫs > Rǫgnir's [Óðin´s] slaughter woman > Valkyrie
býskips skeiðbrimi > bee-ship's surf-racer > air's horse > Valkyrie's horse
Þungra > Freyja
berþrek > bear-bold > warriors
blóðkorgr bǫðvar > blood-dregs of battle > the dead
Hjálmtrjám > helm-trees > warriors
dómsorð > doom-words > justice
malmrunnum > sword-trees > warriors
rafstráit > rievers > Valkyries
hildar hjaldr > battle's Hildr >Valkyrie
skalds britast > skald brightest > Haukr
bálfjandar > pyrefiends > traitors
vítskáld > wit-skald > Haukr

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Do you like it? Hate it? Have questions? Plase let me know by commenting below or by e-mail

It's a beginning

I'm working on a new project, a series of three songs that will go with a story an SCA friend tells. In the story she speaks of a skaldr singing a song that moves a valkyrie to action. But, being a good storyteller, she doesn't tell us the contents of the song.

This is where my impertinence comes into play.

So, here is the first verse. The poem/song is in a "non-skaldic" form called ríma. My analysis of the major example of ríma: Óláfs ríma Haraldssonar seems to show that there are four requirements:

• four lines to a verse
• six to eight syllable in each line
• alliteration in odd-to-even lines
• a rhyme scheme of abab

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Original	Word-for-Word	Poetic Translation
Gæzku-fullr jarl gǫfgastr - glaðar eyðendr geimar - til frænda vartu trúfastr ok trǫlltrygða til þín beimar	Gracious jarl faithful - horses clearer of the seas to kinsmen were you faithful and troll-true to your men.	Gracious faithful jarl - clearer of the seas horses - to kinsmen were you faithful and to your men troll-true.

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Kennings used:

glaðar eyðendr geimar > clearer of the horses of the sea > clearer of ships > SEA-WARRIOR

trǫllatrygða > troll-true > loyal til death

The second kenning, trǫlltrygða, is a very interesting one. Cleasby-Vigfusson has the following explanation:

In one single instance the trolls, strange to say, play a good part, viz. as being grateful and faithful; trolls and giants were the old dwellers on the earth, whom the gods drove out and extirpated, replacing them by man, yet a few remained haunting lonely places in wildernesses and mountains; these trolls, if they meet with a good turn from man, are said to remain thankful for ever, and shew their gratitude; hence the phrases, tryggr sem tröll, faithful as a troll; and trygða-tröll, hann er mesta trygða-tröll, a faithful soul, faithful person; trölla-trygð, 'trolls-trust,' faithfulness to death;

For me, it is a wonderful image.

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I hope to continue this first song for about eight verses. I'll post more as I finish them. Please, leave comments below, or send them to me.

Questions! Do We get Questions?

Yesterday, I posted a little bit of a whine about not getting comments on my poetry. A friend replied that she felt unqualified to comment. My response to her (and anyone else who feels the same way) is that ANYONE and EVERYONE is qualified to comment, whether it is a detailed comment on grammar, vocabulary, etc,; or a general comment (I like the part about the raven's beak, or why did you use the blood-goose metaphor?, or how do you do this or that?)

So, here is MY promise to YOU

If you post a comment or question, beit here, on my facebook page, or to my e-mail, I will reply here within 24 hours (I may be asleep when you post it, so give me some time, ok?).

To prove my word, here is a first question from Facebook.

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QUESTION: "I would like to know, do you write in norse language first then translate or do you write in English first?"

ANSWER

Short answer: I start with an English idea, think in English, then Old Norse, then back to English again.

Long Answer: My general routine is to have a topic in my head, then "gather my troops" by hunting down images and words from the Old Norse dictionaries & databases (Cleasby-Vigfusson's dictionary is on-line, as is the Skaldic Poetry database which has a comprehensive list of kennings). Then I build the poem, thinking in English and finding words in Old Norse to "fill in the blanks".

After I've got the lines roughly written, I work on the grammar (using the on-line New Introduction to Old Norse grammar and my copy of the Syntax of Old Norse).

Finally, I translate the poem back into English. I do two forms of transltion: the Word-by-Word is for those who want better undersnd the vocabulary. The Prose Order is to get the over-all meaning to the readers.

Without the interwebs, I'd never attempt this madness. A searchable dictionary and kenning list is invaluable, and the on-line grammar makes things much simpler.

So there you are. Hope this helps. Thanks for the question!

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Ok, now it's YOUR turn. What's your question?

For Our King

It's only fair....

Since I wrote a verse for Her Majesty, Kallista, earlier this week, it's only fair that I write one for His Majesty, Andreas. I don't want to cause jealousy, after all. So, here you go:

Old Norse Verse	Word-by-Word Translation	Prose Order Translation
Vannt sigkrónu hvennær vegmaðr hugsa degum - Hár þá haslstangir hristaskjala lézt af. blóðdrukkinn var biðan bragning Yggjar gæsa Fyrir eik fagrbúin frægða sigrast dag sá.	Won you crown victory when stately man, I recall day Hár then hazel-poles shakers of shield slaughtered; blood-drunk were biding hero Yggr’s geese. For oak beautifully dressed glory you won day that.	I recall the day when you won crown victory, stately man; Then, Hár of hazel poles, you slaughtered the shakers of shields. Yggr’s biding geese were blood-drunk, ruler. That day, you won glory for The beautifully dressed oak.

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Kennings Used

Hár haslstangir > Har of hazel-poles > Odinn of the lists > ANDREAS
Hristaskjala > shakers of shields > WARRIORS
Yggjar gæsa > Yggr’s geese > Odinn’s goose > RAVEN
eik fagrbúin > oak beautifully dressed > KALLISTA
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COMMENTS

Please, give me your thoughts, either in the comment box below or at my e-mail.

Another Morguhn verse (or Two Couplets Revised)

Good morning! Last summer after my annual vacation at the Pennsic Wars, I wrote a post that has two couplets I wrote while on vacation. It is time for revision of these verses into a full verse.

The couplets with the translations I provided are as follows:

Verse One

haslaði á holm-gang
holinn-menn fyrir gull-hringr

Challenged (he) to holm-gang
bragging-men for gold-ring-the

Verse Two

röskar Morghun rauð-harr
ræti hamingja leitinn

brave Morguhn red-haired
rode (his) fortune seeking

When I looked at these couplets, I saw definite strengths, but considerable weaknesses in three areas: internal rhymes in the first lines, syllable counts, and inflections. These three are difficult, but can be overcome with practice. That caused me to revise these couplets and to expand them into a full verse. That verse follows.

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On Morguhn

Old Norse Verse	Word-by-Word Translation	Prose-Order Translation
Rǫskr Morguhn rauð-harr ræti auðna leitinn; létta skellihlátr lǫngun ofan ǫnda. Skora karpinn sverðum á sártíð fyrir dýrðum sjaufjald krúnas sinnum sló menn inni hǫsldala.	Brave Morguhn red-haired rode fortune seeking lightened roaring laughter longing up spirits. Challenged bragging swords to wound-hours for treasure; seven crown's times slew men in hazel-dale.	Brave red-haired Morguhn rode seeking (his) fortune; Roaring laughter lightened longing spirits up. Bragging swords (he) challenged to wound-hours for treasure; Seven times (he) slew men in the crown's hazel-dale.

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Kennings Used

karpinn sverðum > bragging swords > FIGHTERS
sártíð > wound-hours > BATTLES
hǫsldala > hazel-dale > LIST FIELD

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Comments

As always, I hope I got the grammar right. There are times when the inflections I use may be inadvertently incorrect. If you see a mistake, please let me know.

I keep coming back to this theme, The Legend of Morguhn, because it has some universal truths in it: chivalry, courtesy, prowess, and fate. I only know that these verities bear further consideration. If you have suggestions on different topics I can use to explore these ideas, please let me know through comments.

Finally, any other comments you have - questions, remarks, likes and dislikes - are very important to me. You can use the box below, or you can e-mail me.

For Queen Kallista

Yes, it's about time --- I know, I'm late. I started this on Saturday last at the Coronation of Kallista and Andreas, Queen and King of Æthelmearc. The verse is relatively straight forward, except that praise lines for Her Majesty are inserted between lines of action. In any case, here is the poem.




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Old Norse	Word-by-Word Translation	Prose-Order Translation
Sverðtré hvattu svartbrynn (svanni grœngeils fannvit) á frágǫrðum frœkligum (fríðast, sváss ok bliðust). Drjúgtmanna bjoða dróttningu (dreglaðr raftré fegna rauðharr verndar ratitosks) rausnarkona hraustviðs.	Sword-tree you prompted black-browed (swan of green-glen snow-white) To surpassing feats valiant (most beautiful, sweet, and gentlest) Crowds proclaim you queen (ribbon-trimmed amber tree joyful red-haired friend of squirrel) magnificent lady of the valiant woods.	You prompted the black-browed sword tree to valiant surpassing feats o snow-white swan of the green glen most beautiful, sweet, and gentlest. Crowds proclaim you queen, magnificent lady of the valiant woods Joyful ribbon-trimmed amber tree - red-tressed friend of the squirrel.

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Kennings Used

Sverðtré svart-brynn > sword tree black-browed > ANDREAS
grœngeils > of the green-glens > SYLVAN GLEN
svanni fannvit > swan snow-white > KALLISTA
raftré > amber tree > KALLISTA
hraustviðs > valiant woods > AETHELMEARC




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Reykvellir (Reek-seether)

Yes, volcanos. Two volcanic photos that appeared at the APOD blog inspired me for these verses. Once again, these are pretty kenning & heiti heavy.  The kennings and heiti are explained in my notes at the end.

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This is of an Ecuadorian volcano, but it's STILL nifty

(http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120402.html)

This is of Eyjafjallajokull, during its 2010 eruption

(http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap100419.html)

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Old Norse	Word-by-Word	Prose-Order
Borgar liðdrjúg berg-buis byrræfr braut niðr dýrligt ok gilja inni gullin, glóa seyðir Hveðrungs. Bó­­­tar jǫrðhrist bergklædd bǫls darka élsólars; brandar fuðra brenn-steinn ok bróta duna Hlóriðs	Fortress mighty of mountain-dweller breeze-roof broke up glorious and gullies in golden glow fire-pits of Hveðrung. Boots earthquakes rock-clad trouble's stomp of storm-sun; brands flame of brimstone and breaks thunder of Hlórið.	Mountain-dweller's mighty fortress broke up the glorious breeze-roof and Hveðrung´s fire-pits glow in golden gullies. Storm-sun´s trouble´s rock-clad boots stomp earthquakes; brimstone brands flame and Hloriðd's thunder breaks.
Vaðil flæddi váðvæng velland neðan eld-fjall; reykvellir er rǫkvið ropað yfir snóplaxu. Jotunn brunnum átfrek ǫska fretar mǫkku; strangtvið þa er stráfall strjúpi ǫskeld uppvarp.	Wading streams flow perilous molten down fire-hill; twilit reek seether belches over snow-plains. Giant burning voracious ash farts clouds; strong-woods when straw-fall bleeding-trunk fire-ash throws up.	Molten wading-streams flow down perilous fire-hill; twilit reek seether belches over snow plains. Voracious giant farts burning ash clouds; when bleeding trunk vomits fire-ash strong wood straw-fall.

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Kennings and Heiti Used

Verse One

Borgar berg-buis > fortress of Mountain-dweller > VOLCANO
byrræfr > breeze-roof > SKY
seyðir Hveðrungs > Hveðrungs (a heiti for LOKI) seether (fire-pit) > VOLCANO CRATER
bǫls élsólars > trouble of the storm-sun > TROLL
bó­­­tar bǫls élsólars > the boots of the troll > TREMORS
brandar brenn-steinn > brands of brimstone > LIGHTNING
Hlóriðs > heiti for THOR

Verse Two

Vaðil flæddi velland > wading streams molten > LAVA
reykvellir > reek-seether > VOLCANO
Jotunn átfrek > giant voracious > VOLCANO
stráfall > straw-fall > PERISH, DIE
strjúpi > bleeding-trunk (spoken of a neck after the head is severed) > VOLCANO CRATER

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COMMENTS GO IN THE NICE BOX UNDER HERE!

Please, tell me what you think.......

In re Ball's Pyramid

A friend posted this photo on FaceBook yesterday:


                                                        


Ball's Pyramid is a volcanic stack located off the coast of Australia. I have tried to imagine how it might have appeared to a Norseman, had he, not Lt. Ball, discovered it.

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Old Norse Verse	Word-by-Word Translation	Prose-Order Translation
Ǫndru rísa unnheims eldast at aesirs veldi sævar-haukar skræktan settisk á viðu kletta. Sunds-mist kald-ráðs sókngífrs sníða egg-skarp hríðrot stapi-dreka stǫpla stormar yfir mjǫrkva.	Ski rises wave-world ancient to gods realm sea-hawks shrieking perch on mast rocky. Sound-mist evil-minded battle-witch slices edge-sharp stormy steeple-dragon dashes storms over murky.	The ski of the wave-home rises to the ancient gods' realm shrieking sea-hawks perch on rocky mast. Evil-minded battle-witch´s sharp-edge slices stormy sound's mist the murky storm dashes over the dragon's-steeple.

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Notes

This poem is pretty kenning-heavy, so  a brief reminder about kennings would seem to be appropriate. A kenning is a circuitous metaphor, a re-naming of a thing. kennings can range from simple, with an adjective added to a noun to form a heiti (a single noun that renames without an adjective) or a sankenningar (an adjective plus the referent noun) to a rekit (chased or driven ... three or more kennings strung together). For the most part, the kennings you find in my poetry are sankenningar or kenningar (simple two words, a noun distantly related to the subject plus a descriptive).

Other sources for learning about kennings are:

Frank, Roberta. Old Norse Court Poetry: the Dróttkvætt Stanza. Cornell: 1978.

Gade, Kari Ellen.  The Structure of Old Norse Drottkvætt Poetry.  Cornell: 1995.

Guðrun Nordal. Tools of Literacy. The Role of Skaldic Verse in Icelandic Textual Culture of the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries. University of Toronto Press: 2001.

Lee, Alvin A. Gold-hall and Earth-dragon: Beowulf as a Metaphor. University of Toronto: 1998.

Snorri Sturulson.  Edda. Everyman Press: 1995.

Any way, here are the kennings I used in this poem:

Ǫndru unnheims > ski of the wave-home > boat > ROCK (a tvikent - combining 2 kennings:   
          Ǫndru - ski - BOARD and unnheims - of wave-world - SEA, thus a BOAT)

aesirs veldi  > gods' realm > SKY (a kenningr)

sævar-haukar  > sea-hawks > BIRD (a sankenningr)
viðu kletta  > mast rocky > RIDGE (a kenningr)
Sunds-mist  > mist of the sound > FOG (a sankenningr)
sókngífrs  > battle-witch > axe > ROCK FACE (a kenningr)
egg-skarp  > edge-sharp > AXE BLADE (a sankenningr)
stapi-dreka  > dragon's steeple > ROCK (a kenningr)
mjǫrkva stormar  > murky storms > STORMS (a sankenningr)

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Hrafni-hattr (Raven-hat)

So, before Austin and San Antonio (The trip was, by and large great fun. We enjoyed great weather, got to be very touristy, saw a bit of South by Southwest, visited the Alamo, enjoyed wonderful food - if you like Tex-Mex, try Trudy's on Burnet Road - their Smoked Chicken Molé is a marvel! We saw The Artist, which is a great movie), I put up the following picture from the upcoming Lone Ranger  movie and a challenge.

Today it's my turn to post a verse. This may be a wee-bit far-fetched, but at least I left out, "Hi-ho, Silver! Away!" I´ll give you the Old Norse, followed only by a translation. It's truly THAT simple. Jackson Crawford - your turn!

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Skraelings hattr skraut-ligr

skrafa laga-mann afreks.

"farðu lags-manna fárs-morðs

frek-liga hefnd-rektú"

Grimu-ridi graman

grá-eygr sárlóm heyra:

"hǫfum vit á hefni

hraun-skegg eða deyjum!" 

Showy hat of the Skraeling

talks to law-man valiant.

"(you) Go and harshly vengeance gain

for kinsmen foully murdered!"

Masked rider grey-eyed listens 

to angry blood-loon:

"Gain we vengeance

Wild-man or we die!"

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NOTES and KENNINGS

Did you know that Tonto's name comes from the Potawatomie language and means "Wild One"? This explains "hraun-skegg" in line 8.

Skraelings hattr skraut-ligr > Skaeling's showy-hat > RAVEN

laga-mnn > law-man > the LONE RANGER

sárlóm > blood loon > RAVEN

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Elds-vimr (Fire-whims) # 2

A second pass at auroras today. I´m trying to get my imagery more consistent throughout a verse. In this verse, I´m using a martial imagery scheme. I hope it works for you.

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Old Norse	Line-by-Line Translation	Prose Order Translation
Egg fránn herjar Oðins élker norðan birta -- sverða glóa Svǫlnis svaðil ofan á hrylligr. Borgar manna birting blinda ljósa skjolda. Drauma hirðmanns drepa dreka krókar blóði.	Edge-flashing army Oðins storm-vessel northern brightens; sword glows of Svǫlnis frozen lands over ghastly. Wall men´s brightness blinds light-shields; dreams hirthman´s kill dragon coils bloody.	The flashing edge of Odin´s army brightens the northern storm-vessel; Svǫlnis´s sword glows over the ghastly frozen ground. The wall of light-shields blinds men´s brightness; Dragon's bloody coils kill hirthman´s dreams.

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Kennings Used

Egg fránn herjar Oðins > flashing edge of the Army of Oðin > the AURORA

élker > storm vessel > SKY

Svǫlnis sverða > sword of Svǫlnis [Oðinn] > the AURORA

Borgar ljósa skjólda > wall of light-shields > the AURORA

manna birting > man´s brightness > man´s VISION

dreka krókar blóði >  dragon´s bloody coils > the AURORA

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A Chicken Posting

Today, Jackson Crawford, who runs the highly entertaining and instructive Tattúínárdǿla saga, posted a message about  The Temple of Vængr the wing-god.  I encourage you all to go have a look; it's good for laugh.  In honor of Vængr the wing-god, I present to you the following flokkr of verses, discovered in a middens filled with egg-shells, burnt bread crusts, and dark brown granular particulates. The manuscript, apparently written by the Boreal Master something 1000+ years ago, seems to refer to a warrior who may well have been a congregant at The Temple of Vængr the wing-god.  The manuscript, written on a piece of parchment covered with circular stains which have been identified as having similar characteristics to the dark brown granular particulates found in the midden, was wrapped around a shard of pottery similarly stained. At the head of the manuscript was written in red letters:

Hœna flokkr eggja-gæzlumaðr (which translates very roughly as The Flokkr of Henny Egg-protector-man)

The verses run as follows (taken from a diplomatic version edited by Alowishus T. Cornpone and published in Annals of Animal-Husbandry and Other Felonies, vol. 17, number 3 [March, 1946], pp. 47-48):

Hœna flokkr eggja-gæzlumaðr

Verse 1:

Poetic Order:

Hklaka mattigs óðar hylð þu
hauka tal þelli-hringa flokkr
Heppin bóru bana hœnaar
hviti-kjöt eggjaveðr mattig.

Prose order:

Hlyð þu mattigs óðar hklaka-hauka; tal þelli-hringa flokkr.  Heppen hviti-kjöt bóru mattig  eggjaveðr bana-hœnar.  

Translation:

Hear my mighty poem, Klucking-hawk; I tell of the fir-ring of the flock (> woman > chicken).  Well-starred (> lucky, fortunate) white-meat (> chicken) brought a mighty edge-windstorm (> battle) to the bane of hens (fox).

Verse 2:

Poetic Order:

Hœna réttir estu Hœna Pœna
Hverr fuglar es þer stóru verri

Prose Order:

Réttir hœna estu Hœna Pœna; hverr fuglar es þer stóru verri.

Translation:

A  mighty hen are you, Henny Penny; every bird is below you.

Verse # 3

hana-Óðinn sunginn hagstœðr
hróstinn burja Loxsi-lósti

Prose order:

Hagstœðr sunginn hana-Óðinn burja hróstinn Loxsi-lósti.

Translation:

Fair singing cock of Óðinn (> warrior rooster) struck bragging Loxsi-lusting (> fox).

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Unfortunately (or blessedly, depending on your point of view) the script following this flokkr is utterly scrambled, giving us no further clues as to the outcome of the saga.
  

Steff-granni (Stem-thin)

This is a revision. I want to make my poetry more grammatically correct as I go along, and I decided to take a few days to go over two or three recent verses and see if I can't make them "right".

The first is below, entitle "Steff-granni" after the first two words.  What you have is the original version, which was first posted on December 1.  It is followed by the revised verse. The meanings haven't changed, but, if I'm lucky, the grammar has improved.

On this one, I truly encourage those who know to give me corrections and take me to task. Part of the learning process, right?

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Original Verse	Revised Verse
Stef-grannr klofað stríðs-maðr staðfastr á flaðgs-mór; kyrtil gróm-lauss kongsgjøf kompásað miðli stríðs-manns. Folk-Tyr mattig (fagr-eygr) (furu-rafir) krúnu fara andvigr (fylgt hinn) feginn-samligr (legg ást).	Stef-granni klofa striðs-maðr ok staðfasti til flaðgar-mós; kyrtill gróm-lauss kongs-gjøf kompassar mitti striðs-manns. Folk-Tyr mattig (fagr-eyga) (furu-rafir) krúnu ferr vega (hann fylgja) fagnaðar (með ástum).

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Line-by-Line Meaning	Prose Order Meaning
stem-thin strides strife-man and stedfast to the ogress-moor Stainless belt the king's gift compasses middle of strife-man. Army-god mighty (fair-eyed) (fir tree of amber) crown goes to fight for (guide him) joyfulness-filled (by love)	Stedfast stem-thin strife-man strides to the ogress-moor; The King's gift, a stainless belt compasses the strife-man's waist The army-Tyr goes joyfully to fight for the crown; the fair-eyed amber fir-tree guides him by her love

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Dags kyndill (Day´s candle)

Today was a gloomy one in upstate New York, another in what will become a depressing string of sullen, dismal days. I hope we get snow before Christmas, but until we do, I fear it will be "rain, rain,go away...."

One of my friends, Julie Golick, a skald from Canada (Montréal, I believe), mentioned the guttering day's candle this morning and lit a small votive flame for my skaldic side. What follows is what she inspired. It is intended to be quasi-religious, using the sun as a metaphor for the Blessed Virgin Mary. The rest follows from that central image. I hope it works on both levels, however.

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Dags kyndill

Old Icelandic	Literal Translation	Idiomatic Translation
Dags kyndill dylisk dúkar hon eru lúku; aldri neitar illar ylir synds-trja gyldr Dyrkað vér djarf-liga dǫglingr fróns sólar: silki-dúkar skilja svart-grána ok regn-ful; láta kynda léttast lyfit logi skýja.	Days candle hides curtains her are drawn; ever denies evil warmth sin-trees golden. Beg we boldly king of the land of the sun: Silky-curtains part dark-gray and rain-filled; let kindle most cheerful healing light of the clouds	The days-candle hides - her curtains are drawn; (she) ever denies evil sin-trees golden warmth. King of the Land of the Sun, we boldly beg (that you) part the dark-gray, rain-filled curtains (and) let the most cheerful healing light of the clouds kindle

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Kennings Used

Dags kyndel  > Day's candle   >  SUN

dúkar  >  curtain  >  CLOUDS

synds-trja  >  sin-trees  >  MEN

dǫglingr fróns sólar  >  king of the land of the sun  >  king of Heaven  >  GOD

silki-dúkar  >  silky-curtains  >  CLOUDS

logi  skýja  >  light of the clouds  >  SUN

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Ravens

I have been fascinated by ravens since I was a boy. I watched crows, and I read of their cousins, the ravens. Tales of ravens, such as Hugin and Munin, are part of what drew me to Norse mythology and, eventually, to the sagas and poetry. The Norse had a fascination with the ravens and their eerie behavior when scavenging. The kennings list at the Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages website shows no fewer than 125 different kennings for ravens.

A few years ago, I read Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds, by Bernd Heinrich, a fascinating book which discusses the intelligence of the birds. Recently, I came across a web posting on the same subject. In the article, the authors discuss the sophisticated communications system of ravens:

[R]avens use their beaks similar to hands to show and offer objects such as moss, stones and twigs. These distinct gestures were predominantly aimed at partners of the opposite sex and resulted in frequent orientation of recipients to the object and the signallers. Subsequently, the ravens interacted with each other, for example, by example billing or joint manipulation of the object. Ravens in particular can be characterized by complex intra-pair communication, relatively long-time periods to form bonds and a relatively high degree of cooperation between partners.

It is this highly developed communications strategy that helped inspire this verse describing a pair of ravens viewing a battlefield. I hope you will enjoy it!

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(http://corvidcorner.com/wordpress/2011/05/raven-desktop-wallpaper/)

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Hrafnar (Ravens)

Old Icelandic	Line-by-Line Translation	Prose-Order Translation
Blígja um braut brandéls blóðig nágagl eygt-svart; á hvíslur hast-ligu hreyr dæmum leyndar. Hrafnar einir heyra haug-mál hrylla-liga; skipta ein-hjal skáliga skárfir roða sára. Svipa í hlóði sveita svanir fæða á bana; boginn hǫfuð heyra hag-mæltr bana-mana. Eru stolen arm-hring offran fyrir Tyrs-náð. Eru stoliinn sagar sagði fyrir Herjans. Fljúga heim môr Hugins (Hanga-drótins sam-siði) vísi bjóða vigs-menn (veg-semd syngja víg-liðs) meyja Viðris máttkar (minni halda þinna) ok syngja á heim sálnar (ok sǫgur telja soks-mans)	Gaze over road of sword-storm bloody corpse-geese black-eyed; in whispers harsh corpses talk secrets. Ravens only hear cairn-talk horrid; bandying secrets baleful sea-gulls huddle of wounds. swoop silently blood swans to feed on death; bent heads listen (to) well-spoken dead-men. are stolen arm-rings offering for Tyr's grace. are stolen tales told for Herjans Fly home swarm of Hugin (Hanged-god's companion) Guide (and) offer war-men (glory sing of war-folk) (to) maids of Viðris mighty (hold your memories) and sing home the souls (and tales tell of attack-men)	Bloody black-eyed corpse geese Gaze over sword-storm road; corpses talk secrets in harsh whispers. Only ravens hear the horrid cairn-talk seagulls of wounds huddle bandying baleful secrets Blood swans silent swoop to feed on death; bent heads listen to well-spoken dead-men. Stolen arm-rings are offerings for Tyr's grace; Stolen tales are told for Herjans Swarm of Hugin, fly home and offer to guide to war-men Viðris's mighty maids and sing home the souls. Companion of the hanged-god sing the glory of war-folks hold your memories and tell the heroes' tales

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Kennings Used

braut brandéls   >  sword-storm road  >  BATTLE-FIELD

nágagl  >  corpse-geese  >  RAVENS

skárfir sára  >  wound sea-gulls  >  RAVENS

svanir sveita  >  blood-swans  >  RAVENS

môr Hugins  >  Hugin's swarm  >  RAVENS

Hanga-drótins sam-siði  >  Hanged-god's companion  >  ODIN'S companion  >  RAVEN

meyja Viðris  >  maid of Viðris  >  ODIN'S maid  >  VALKYRIE

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One note: In the third stanza, I did a tricky - I essentially split the two half-stanzas into four lines and mixed them together. So, when you look at the Old Icelandic and Line-by-Line versions, the parenthetical lines go together, as they do in the prose order translation. This is a rarely used technique, but an interesting one to use once in a while. I'm sorry if this causes confusion.

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Old Wine in New Bottles, Part Two

Another new verse, based on previously written material. Like the earlier verse today, this is for the Crown Tournament þáttr.

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Old Icelandic	Line-by-Line Translation	Prose-Order Translation
Stef-grannr klofað stríðs-maðr staðfastr á flaðg's-mór; kyrtil gróm-lauss kongsgjøf kompásað miðli stríðs-manns. Folk-Tyr mattig (fagr-eygr) (furu-rafir) krúnu fara andvigr (fylgt hinn) feginn-samligr (legg ást).	stem-thin strides strife-man stedfast to the ogress-moor Stainless belt the king's gift compasses middle of strife-man. Army-god mighty (fair-eyed) (fir tree of amber) crown goes to fight for (guide him) joyfulness-filled (by love)	Stedfast stem-thin strife-man strides to the ogress-moor; The King's gift, a stainless belt compasses the strfe-man's waist The army-Tyr goes joyfully to fight for the crown; the fair-eyed amber fir-tree guides him by her love

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KENNINGS USED

stríðs-maðr & stríðs-manns > strife-man > WARRIOR

flaðg's-mór > ogress-moor > BATTLE FIELD (the ogress being a symbol of disharmony)

Folk-Tyr > Army-god > WARRIOR

furu-rafir > fir tree of amber > WOMAN

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A New Verse from Old Parts

Today, taking a verse previously written in English and re-working it into Icelandic.

Old Icelandic	Word-by-Word Translation	Prose-Order Translation
Hæru-kollr til koma kasta á vøll-hasel; bregða skarpa bragr branda rjóðr rønd-fisk. Grimm-leitr klofað gramr gata-skalda glotti; hjó-staf greip haukstrandr - hefjum róggeisla.	Hoary-head to comes to cast on field of hazel brandishes sharp best sword reddener rim-fish. Grimly strides warrior gate of skald grins hew-stem grips hawk-strand he hefts battle-beam.	Hoary-head comes to cast his chance on the hazel-field; Best sword-reddener brings (the) rim-fish. Grimly strides the warrior skald-gates grinning; hew-stem is gripped by hawk´s strand (he) hefts the battle-beam

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KENNINGS USED

Hæru-kollr > Hoary-head >  an old WARRIOR

hasel-vøll > hazel-field > a LIST for fighting

rjóðr-branda > sword-reddener > WARRIOR

rønd-fisk > rim-fish > SWORD

gata-skalda > skald's gate > MOUTH or LIPS

hjó-staf > hew-stem > SWORD

haukstrandr > hawk strand > ARM

róggeisla > battle-beam > SWORD

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Krónu þáttr miðju sumars [Tale of Midsummer Crown], UPDATED NOVEMBER 30!!!!

Hej!


As promised earlier today, here is the first part of a new þáttr about a tournament.  In it, I´m using verses that you've seen before, with some needed modifications.  The whole tale is about four paragraphs and six verses long and will be published over the next few weeks. Look for updates. 


In writing this þáttr, I have gone a different route, attempting to write the prose without using any translation tools, except a dictionary and grammar. I've used  the on-line Cleasby-Vigfusson and Michael Barnes's A New Introduction to Old Norse.  Of course, all of the writing and errors are mine. Please. comment and suggest how my clumsy prose can be improved. 


UPDATED - November 30. The new section is red-lettered.

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Krónu þáttr miðju-sumars

Maðr er nefndr Isenulfr, sonr Thorhalls. Orrostur mørg børðusk hann ok er konung máttugr. Hann gékk at eiga Rosalindis, einn kona tignar Frankis. Réðu þeir í samt nítján vetra, en kynsæll ekki þeir. Svá at konung-ríkit arfuna hafa, Isenulfr kvað at orði einn burt-reið mikla. Sigrmagnaðinn taka arf at krónu aptir Isenulf ok Rosalinidis. Isenulfr konung gørða orð til allra herjar -  "Kóma allt til boðit at miðju sumri ok gangu á hólm mín!"

Svá segir skald-gamli:


Hvélinn skein á hólar

himins enda-lauss dimmir -

Stýri gildr bauð skatna

stafar malregns djarfr
Ildest.
Sverð-taka jarn-fastr

ok ýtar fresknastr rítar;

forú át mó fleins flug

finnar erfingi þínna.


*****
Margir menn kómu til konungs-bús á Midju-sumars vaku. þeir váru heilsat af báðra Isenulf ok Rosalindis. Bóð mikil er haldin. Nóttina var dá-samligr ok sérhverr váru plagaðusk með mann-doma. Konung gaf þeimall gull-hring vér skulum marka áf burt-reidinn.  Talði þeim hann burtreiðar-løginn.  Burt-reiðainn skyldi vera berjaði með vapnum eggum-vølr. Striðs-mennin ok dómandír skydi gripa á loturin. Alla striðsmenn látum at burt-reiðdarinn ok festat á hlýða.  Næsta morgin, fyrðarinir géngu á hasel-vøll burdeiga. Kvenna kusu nafn ok øttu. Burdeigaðu fyrðar til midju-dag. Skininn var sól ok dagr var heitr.

Svá segir skald-gamli:

Blaka merki bik-svart
bor'a með gull ok vørar
Kallarir hrósat hringa
hrað-mæltr sírar glaðligr.
Fram-leitat þjórar from-fuss
frýði gjórdar-vitr prýddr -
Kallad her-blástr koll-hufs
á kró litr-járn gnýs-odda.

The Tale of Mid-Summer Crown

There was a man named Eisenwulf son of Thorhall. He had fought many battles and had become a great king. He was married to Rosalindis, a noble woman from France.  Together, they had ruled for nineteen winters, but they had not been blessed with children. In order that the kingdom would have an heir, Isenwulf decreed that a great tourney be held. The victor would be the heir to the crown after Isenwulf and Rosalinda. King Isenwulf sent words to all warriors: "All come to the Midsummer feast and meet my challenge!"

As the old skald says:

(The wheel of heaven shone on

endless dusky hills.

Mighty ruler you summoned

metal-rain staves bold.

Iron-fast sword-takers elder

and bold shield-impellers come

to the spear flight moor

to find your heir.)

*****



Many men came to the royal-house on Mid-summer's eve. They were warmly greeted by both Eisenwulf and Rosalindis. They held a sumptuous feast. The night was glorious and everyone was treated with great generosity.  The king gave each fighter a gold ring to mark him for the tournament. He told them the rules. The tournament would be fought with blunt-edged weapons. The fighters and judges would decide each bout.  All the fighters swore that they would follow the rules.


The next morning, the warriors met on the hazel-field. The Queen drew and matched names. The fighters battled until the mid-day. The sun shone and the day was hot.


As the old skald says:


(pitch black banners broidered
with gold and fur flew
Heralds quick of speech
praised cheerful ring-saplings.
Eager honor seeking young bulls
challenged adorned white belts -
war-trumpets called iron-skull-caps
to the sword-pint pen.)

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Of course, when translating the SCA into Old Icelandic, some liberties get taken, and I apologize here and now to Their Majesties, Isenwulf and Rosalinda, for fictionalizing slightly. I hope I do not offend.

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