RAVENS (again)!

And, this time, in English!

Wow! I guess I haven't posted anything in a very very long time. My apologies for the silence, but the muse has not been hanging around very much recently.

I have been writing, but I've more involved in music. At the Pennsic War this year (that being a two-week camping event in the SCA), I purchased a replica Sutton Hoo lyre. I've been slowly learning more about the music that would have heard in 12th-13th century Iceland and attempting to write some tunes to accompany my poetry. That has become my excuse for not writing new poetry.

However, recently I've been working in English, transforming my ON poetry into English. In this, I attempt to write good dróttkvætt while keeping or improving the meaning of the ON original. I'm also working on my knowledge of ON grammar, in order to improve my poetry in the original tongue. That will take some time, but I hope to publish some revised poetry during the winter months.

So, here is the first of two poems I have reworked. It is about ravens.

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Gaze on sword storm's glory
gore geese black-eyed soaring.
Hear in harshest whispers
horrid tales of corpse-talk.
Bandying secrets baleful
Baldr's blood-hawks huddle -
Hoar's minions lone hear
harm trees Hel-bound quelléd

Silent fly the soul hawks
Swans drink wine from wound fjord
to gold-tongued sword pierced gallants
goslings sharp-beaked harken.
Tales from fallen telling
Tyr's grace brings to hersir
Offer gifts most awe-filled
arm-rings fit for Herjans.

Home fly swarms of Hugin
(Hanged-gods coal black henchmen - )
Guide the noble guardsmen
(glory sing of war-folk)
Maids of Viðris mighty
(mind hoard keep you kindly)
Savour souls of sword trees
(and sagas sing of ring-gods)

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There are many kennings there. A couple might need expelling. First, in verse in verse one, Hoar is an Óðinn name. Also, in verse two, the last line refers to Herjan, another Óðinn name, as is Viðris in verse three. "Hoar's minions" is a raven-kenning; and "Maids of Viðris" is a kenning for valkyries.

The other word that may jar slightly is "quelléd" at the close of verse one. I chose the word based on the ON kvelja "to torment". Thus, for my purposes, "quelled" means "tormented, tortured."

Please let me know your questions, thoughts, and ideas. And, I'll be back very soon with another new blogpost. Promise!

A Dróttkvætt for a Poet & Brewer

This past Saturday, Lord Magnus Hvalmagi was inducted into the Order of the Maunche by TRM Gregor & Kenna, King & Queen of the East. I was honored to write the scroll text. The form is the dreaded dróttkvætt. The translation & notes follow the scroll text. The very talented Lady Isabel Chamberlaine calligraphed and limned the scroll.

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You can hear it here:

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Scroll wording for Magnus Hvalmagi's Maunche

Margnum beinad mikill
meistari raust hrosta
skaðamaðr sanngõfugr
salgauks  bruggað õlblóð.
Fræði gróf at fornskrár
fróða elszk hann sõgu
klifsstaf tárit korni
kallað frem hvalmegi.

Heitað bytár á hverlegi
hvel maðr gullin svelgas -
fleyliðit hann Freyjas
fljóta sem munvágs Dáins
Dimmt þungliga drupu
dvergregn á eyru herrar
áðr Magnus gõrvirõls
á dómi með sõgu koma.

Õlhaf bitið Óðins
ok hornstraum klari fagreygr
Kenna drottning kenst ok
konungr Gregor greypr
Magnus bjorwit beina á
bróðerni stuka ok duppuð
með guðvefr stuka ok gullin
hann albezt hvalmegi

Dæmað þess sexdagr heyannirs, fertugátt ár stofnanar í Líndalfylki á herbúðir.

Gregor, konungr
Kenna, drottning

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Many call out for the
mighty master of malt
most noble slayer of hallcock
brews a bloody ale.
Craft-lore dug from ancient
scrolls Lore-wise makes him -
Whale mighty calls forth
Tears of of gold corn's wave-prow.

Man of golden gurges brewed
bee-tears to cauldron liquor -
His aleships of Freya
float as Dains blithe waves.
Heavily dripped the dark
dwarfrain on the master's ears
ere Magnus ale-maker
brought his tales to court.

Odin's ale-sea and clear
hornstream moved
faireyed Kenna queen and
fiercest Gregor king -
Beer-wise Magnus lifted they
to the Sleeve Order and
clad best goosesmart whale-might
 in sleeves of perse and gold.

Proclaimed this sixth day of the harvest season, the forty-eighth year of the Founding,  in Flax-dale-Shire, at War Camp.

Gregor King

Kenna Queen

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NOTES ON KENNINGS & VOCABULARY USED:

Verse 1:

meistari hrosta > master of malt > brewer

skaðamaðr sanngõfugr salgauks > most noble slayer of the hallcock > the poet seems to make reference to a ritual slaying of a rooster, somehow associated with  õlblóð or blood-ale.

ságufrúða > Lore-wise > learned in research

klifsstaf tárit korni > tears of of gold corn's wave-prow > ale or beer.

Hvalmegi  > Whale-mighty > reference to the subject's byname.

Verse 2:

Heitað bytár á hverlegi  > Brewed bee-tears to cauldron-liquor > "bee-tears" are honey; "cauldron-liquor" can denote both ale/mead AND poetry.

hvel maðr gullin svelgas > man of golden gurges (whirlpool) > reference to the subject's shield.

fleyliðit Freyjas > Freya's aleships > poetry.

munvágs Dáins > bright waves of Dain (a dwarf name) > verses or ale.

Dimmt dverregn > Dark dwarfrain > poetry. Heavy, stolid poetry.

gõrvirõls > maker of ale > brewer and poet.

Verse 3:

Ólhaf óðins ok hornstraum klari > Odin's ale-sea and clear horn-streams > poetry & ale.

bjórwit > beer-wise > skilled in brewing.

bróðerni stuka  > sleeve brotherhood > Order of the Maunche.

gaglbjartr > goose-bright or goose-smart > intelligent

guðvefr > good-weave > a costly fabric for Kings > hence, metaphorically, purple.

Prose close:

heyannirs > harvest months > July and August.

stofnanar > the Founding's Year > Anno Societatis

Lindalfylki  >  Flax-dale-Shire > Shire of Glenn Linn.

"Spring is Here!" (Meginn drápa riki - drapa for King Maynard)

"Sprrrring is here ..... Sprrrring is here. Life is skittles and life is beer! I think the loveliest time of the year is the spring. I do, don't you? 'course you do. But there's one thing that makes spring complete for me, And makes ev'ry sunday a treat for me." - Tom Lehrer

"Berið ér aptr, es várar, fleyvangs til Orkneyja, [Carry back, when it is spring, across the ship-plain to the Orkneys,]" - Sigmundr Ǫngull

In Spring, a young man's fancy turns toward ... sword-play! Raiding! Battle! Blood! Gore! What more could a true warrior ask for?

This poem, Meginn drápa riki, is about just that. For as the sun rises higher in the sky, the fjords thaw and the warships can head across the plains of puffins to find new treasure.

The poem is in dróttkvætt and is loaded with kennings. It is written for Maynard and Liadain, who will become King and Queen of Aethelmearc in April. Maynard's name means "Strength" in German, and Meginn is both an Old Icelandic adjective with the same meaning and a 14th century Norwegian name.

Recordings will happen, in a bit.

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Meginn drápa riki (Drápa for King Maynard)

Old Norse Verses

Poetic Translation

Stef: Veðr vill blásask Viðurs er várvíkingar fara. Er sólarvagn sigla skúrir Gauts vill fljúgask. Eptir Skaði aprast askar hafði blásit ok grundar sofa gengit innan grip hennar svipinn, þá fjǫrðuísa Njarðar fríðka munnar gliðna atatata ítar ok ístannar þeirra gnísta. Boðit, máttkar mœðir málmrunna aldrunur, vápna gnýlinns viðir viggjálfar greiða seglhund. Fyr ræða jarl ok riki með ruglandinn huldu - með Vikingum á vári veðri Hôars koma. (Stef) þrekramr heyrðuð þarlands þengill orðum benrǫgns - konung boðaði kinngrár kattar lundar atgeirs: Nú seglbúinn austansjór skildir brands skeiðar - Ǫðlings rikis afmá andmáligir brandar. Hersa dróttinn heyrðuð hugstrangr dreka fluginn: engis lúru lundar landgramr leiddi randa. "Foldir sumars fámask fagrastr hrifsa, lifra!" kambi kallaði gullin konung miðjulondum. (Stef) Virðar óþyrmir varga vestan á borðhestum fljúgusk á feginum með fleinþollar erlendis. At skǫmmu, Stœrir gumr sótr súða rotaðir - kafþjórs brenna kefir kattar dróttin máttigr. Brima, þjóðar bragning, bǫrð renndusk at jǫrðu ok á gustum hljópu geirs gífrs hestar hlessa. Þá fló drekinn dǫkkhárr at drifum Hóars rifsinn - med angr ýs ok undreyr, auðvin, songst dauð þeirra. (Stef) Merkum snuask at myrkum, mattigr yngva áttkonr ok gjofvinr leiddir vendværr vaskast hersa fastligar. Drotinn austum jofra oddum merjiðr berat ok kisar hel valkasti, konungr, hafði brunnit. Dróttning brímr dómsorð drekifólkum draga. hveiti hræteina hjálms víðir hafði bítat Hrafnsvini flaut í rennr heiti sár af hveitum. Aðalbórinn eyðir yfir svikfolk vinna. (Stef) Siðan hugaðr sigÞróttr --- sármenn á dǫgum fornum linntanna þryngoss ellandr --- leiddar lundar gunnborðs. Siðan at þer stedfast --- sigrhorna at hlífðrum uppdalum blásisk austkendr --- augum renna meyja Hegni jarla hyggiligr hjalm-Njǫrðungum kallir. Almdrósar drótinn orkar árum hagla bogna. Konungr svarum kringjir krossklædd Ýtar ôsu. hafs þík svarum hyrþǫll hundmargr þekkjandar þunnblás. (Stef)

Refrain: Odin's wind will blow when spring-vikings roam. When the sun's wain sails, The rains of Gaut will fly. After Skaði harshest the ash trees has blasted and sleeping are the green fields in her sweeping grip, then Njorð's handsome mouth, fjords of ice are breaking - chattering and gnashing glorious ice teeth rumble You ordered, mighty troubler of battle-runners thundering, din-snakes trees to armor and steed-elves fast to sail hounds. (for) jarl and king are plotting with secrecy confounding, (and) Hóar's mighty storms come with Vikings in the Spring. (Refrain) In far-off land you heard kings' words of bloody-rain how king of cats commanded grey-cheeked trees of halberds: in eastern seas are sail-bound war-prows' shield-providers - now come contentious fire brands to savage noble marklands. You heard, our Warrior ruler flying dragons strong-willed: the prince of the meadow's halibut led the trees of the rims. "Fields of summer fairest let us pillage, brothers!" cried the gold-hatted - the King of the middle lands. (Refrain) Plank-horse riding western men, outlaw-crusher, joined you - joined in battle joyful to stop the spear-firs foreign. Soon, soot-horses of the plank you stunned, strengthener of men the sea-ox of the deep you burned and harmed the cat jarl mighty. Then ran aground the planks of surf, prince of men most valiant, and stunned the troll's horses leaping, did the Aethling's spear-gust Then flew the plundering dragon - into Hóars snow-storm deadly treasure-friend, you sang their death with wound-reeds and yew´s sorrow. (Refrain) You faced the darkened Eastern banners mighty heir of kings. And lead most valiant war-men sturdy, bounty's-friend hard-pleased. Lord of princes, brought you crushing to mighty Eastern armies and you, our mighty king, have burned the corpse-pile of the kittens. King fiery dooms-word to dragon-army brought wheat of carrion-twigs helm-trees have bitten. Ravens wine flowed from running hot wounds from axes. Noble-born destroyer over evil vanquished. (Refrain) Again, o bold victory-Þróttr --- as snake-fanged wound-men as of old surround us --- you lead the trees of battle-boards. Again, o stedfast victory maid--- with eastern victory-horns in hidden up-dales blasting --- our yearning eyes beseech you. Jarl-punisher wisest calls forth the helms of Norðir - Queen of the bow-maid summons messengers of the hailstones of the bow. Cross-clad King, we, the cunning gods of shields, answer. Fir of the sea-fire, we, the many knowers of the linen-cord answer. (Refrain)

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Notes

There are three recurring images that may need explanation: first, the Kingdom of the East (Northeastern US & Eastern Canada) uses a blue tyger as its totem; this explains the references to King of Cats, etc. Second, the Middle Kingdom (Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky) has the dragon as its totem; thus the dragon references. Finally, although it only makes a cameo appearance, the Kingdom of Ealdormere (Ontario) is the home of the wolves; that's where that reference comes from.

A final note: yes, I know that kisar valkasti is pretty danged gruesome. All I can say is that "War isn't for the Squeamish."

Kennings Used

Stef:

Veðr Viðurs > Odin's weather > BATTLE/WAR
várvíkingar > Vikings of Spring > RAIDERS
sólarvagn > Sun's wain > SUN
skúrir Gauts > showers of Gautr > ARROWS

VERSE 1:

Skaði > goddess of Winter > WINTER
munnar Njarðar > Njorð's mouth > ICE
ístannar > ice teeth > ICE FLOES

VERSE 2:

máttkar mœðir málmrunna aldrunur > mighty troubler of battle-runners > troubler of warriors > KING
gnýlinns viðir > din-snakes trees > sword trees > WARRIORS
viggjálfar > war-elves > SAILORS
seglhund > sail-hound > SHIP
veðri Hôars > Hoar´s storms > WAR

VERSE 3:

orðum benrǫgns > words of bloody rains > OMENS
konung kattar > King of Cats > EASTERN KING
lundar atgeirs > trees of halberds > WARRIORS
brands > SWORDS
skildir skeiðar > shield providers > WARRIORS
Ǫðlings rikis > Aethling´s realm > noble realm > ÆTHELMEARC
andmáligir brandar > contentious brands > WARRIORS

VERSE 4:

Hersa hugstrangr > warrior ruler > KING MAYNARD
drótinn dreka > King of the dragon > MIDDLE KING>
engis lúru landgramr > land-ruler of the meadow-fish > King of the snake > MIDREALM KING
lunar randa > trees of rims > trees of shields > WARRIORS
kambi gullin > gold-hatted > KING

VERSE 5:

Virðar vestan > men of the west (who ride plank-horses) > SAILORS/WARRIORS
borðhestum > plank-horses > SHIPS
fleinþollar > spear-firs > WARRIORS
sótr súða > soot-horses > WOLVES
Stœrir gumr > strengthener of men > KING
kafþors kefir > sea-ox of the deep > SHIPS
kattar drótinn > King of cats > EASTERN KING

VERSE 6:

þjóðar bragning > prince of men > KING
bǫrð brim > planks of the surf > SHIPS
gustum geirs > wind of spears > BATTLE/ATTACK
gífrs hestar > troll's horses > WOLVES
drekinn dǫkkhárr > dark-haired dragon > KING OF THE MIDDLE
drifum Hóars > Hóar's storm > Odin's storm > WAR
angr ýs > Yew's sorrow > FIRE
undreyr > wound-reeds > ARROWS
auðvin > treasure-friend > KING

VERSE 7:

yngva áttkonr > heir of kings > KING MAYNARD
gjofvinr > bounty-friend > KING MAYNARD
hersa > war-men > WARRIORS
drótinn jofar > lord of princes > KING MAYNARD
kisar valkasti > corpsepile of kittens > DEAD EASTERN WARRIORS

VERSE 8:

drekifólkum > dragon-army > MIDDLE WARRIORS
hveiti hræteina > wheat of carrion-twigs > SPEARS
hjálms víðir > helmet-trees > WARRIORS
Hrafnsvini > wine of ravens > BLOOD
Aðalbórinn eyðir > noble-born destroyer > KING MAYNARD

VERSE 9:

sigÞróttr > victory-Þróttr >victory-Odin > KING MAYNARD
linntanna sármenn > snake-fanged wound-men > MIDREALM WARRIORS
lundar gunnborðs > trees of battle-boards > WARRIORS
sigrhorna > victory-horns > WAR CRIES
renna meyja > victory-maiden > QUEEN LAIDAIN

VERSE 10:

Hegni jarla > conqueror of jarls > KING MAYNARD
hjalm-Njǫrðungum > helms ofNjǫrð > WARRIORS
Almdrósar drótinn > Ruler of elm-maids > ruler of valkyries > QUEEN LIADAIN
hagla bogna > hail of bows > FLIGHT OF ARROWS
konungr krossklædd > cross-clad king > KING MAYNARD (after his coat of arms)
Ýtar ôsu > gods of spears > WARRIORS
hafs hyrþǫll - fir of sea-fire > fir of gold > QUEEN LIADAIN
þekkjandar þunnblás knowers of the linen-cord > ARCHERS

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LIKE IT? HATE IT? GOT QUESTIONS? GOT OPINIONS?

Leave a comment below _☟ or write me.

Thank you!

Mansǫngr

"If a man composes a love-verse on a woman, then the penalty is full outlawry. The case lies with the woman if she is twenty or older. If she [is younger or] will not have it prosecuted, then the case lies with her legal administrator." - Gragas II, p. 198, K § 238.

A love-verse or mansǫngr was a ticket to a death-sentence in Commonwealth Iceland. As Gunnora, The Viking Answer Lady, says at her site:

The prohibitions against love poetry help to explain why courtships were little practiced in the Viking period. While the goddess Freyja was the patroness of *mansongar*, and delighted in love poetry, mortal women had to be more cautious. Love poems were viewed in law as a distinct slur upon a woman's reputation, suggesting that the poet had had a more intimate knowledge of his beloved than was considered seemly (Foote and Wilson, p. 112). The reputation of a woman reflected upon the honor of her family: if her honor was tarnished, so was that of her father, brothers, uncles, cousins and sons. Any dalliance with a woman's reputation was likely to bring down the wrath of her entire lineage upon the hapless suitor!

Unlike our more lenient society, the Icelanders were very concerned with the appearance of rectitude, especially when it pertained to unmarried women. An unmarried woman could be viewed as "social capital" and anything that would make her less than marriageable was a threat to the economic well-being of her family and herself.

However, there likely would not be a law prohibiting the writing of mansǫngar unless the problem existed. In the poem/song I present to you today, I have tried to imagine what such a mansongr might sound like.

Below, you have the poem which has been set to music, the score, and the standard recording. The melody is a variation on a modernization by Åke Persson of the 14th century Danish melody, Drømde mig en drøm i nat.

Please leave comments at the bottom. Enjoy!

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Old Norse Verses

Poetic Translation

Silki logi skýja Sága vakir svæla singrað kvikligr sǫngr skyli hjartinn fylla Grásvíðr liðmjjukr gráreygn grænblað dýrhallr fagrbuínn spenja á þin svefna skirdræpr Freya hýrlega. Gefa minna gáfar gulla hornstraum fulla Horna gjallar hvítings hlátr fylgja sálsgata Hrein seiði hǫrbrekka hjartataugar tugu skírdræpt sæt fagrgala sverðsegg gullin skerpa STEF: Beina rausta mína Njorun silkiskorðu Beina astir mína Æskiselja ǫls.

Silken gods-flame Saga wakes you sultry Singing brisk song shall the heart fill. Willow deer-slope grey-eyed green-blade lithe bright-dressed Draw (me) to your dreaming dazzling Freya smiling. Give my gifts to me golden horn-storms full Horna's ringing ale horn laughter guides souls-path. Pure enchanting flax-slope You tug at my heart-strings Dazzling soft love song sharpens golden sword-edge. REFRAIN: My voice rises to you Goddess of Silk-trees My love rises to you Ale's wishing-willow.

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Mansongr

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Kennings Used Silki Sága > Silken Goddess > WOMAN
logi skýja > gods-flame > SUN
Grásvíðr dýrhallr > Willow deer-slope > WOMAN
grænblað > green blade > WOMAN
skirdræpr Freya > dazzling Freyja > WOMAN
hornstraum > horn-storms > SONGS
Horna gjallar hvítings > Horn's ringing ale-horn > WOMAN
sálsgata > soul's gate > HEART
hǫrbrekka > flax-slope > WOMAN
fagrgala > love song > WOMAN
sverðsegg > sword's edge > MAN'S LOVE
Njorun silkiskorðu > Goddess of the silk-tree > WOMAN
Æskiselja ǫls > Ale's wishing willow > WOMAN


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Haustdag hástoðum

Today´s offering is a poem of the harvest. It is written in haðarlog, a dróttkvætt variant. Snorri cites it in the Hattatal, section 79 (p. 211 in the Everyman edition of the Edda). It is the same as dróttkvætt, except that there are only five syllables per line. The prime example of haðarlog may be Hrafnsmál by Sturla Þórðarson. You can read it here. In her notes on the poem, found in Poetry from the Kings Sagas, vol. 2, pp. 727-745, Kari Ellen Gade notes, "Because of the restrictions imposed by the metre, the poems contains a wealth of nominal compounds, many of which are hap[ax] leg[omenon]" (words or terms not found elsewhere) "and some of which are very awkward." In other words, the missing syllable forces you to invent new compound words for the poem. It's nice to know that Sturla had the same challenge I did in this matter.

The verse, which started life as a gentle pastoral, turned into an extended metaphor for war, as ON poems are wont to do. Snorri would call this use of the same metaphor throughout the verse nýgjǫrvingar "allegory" (Hattatal, section 6; Everyman, p. 170)

There is a recording, as well as the verse and its translation. The music is mine, based on a version of the Lilja, a medieval Icelandic song, which you can find here
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Enjoy!
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Old Norse Verses	Poetic Translation
Haustdagr hástóðum Hornar gullkorni gransíðr góðþegnar gáfa þorpskáru. Vélinn ljárvaldi vaðblóði mýgjaðu ok fargað vínberjum fyr fínast ulfsvínsgǫrðr.	On Fall days high-stood Freyja´s golden wheat good thegns Long-bearded field-sheared the gifts. Good-men scythe-wielders mowed-down blood-waders pressed the wine-berries for the fine wolf-wine.

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Two beautiful ladies helped make this poem better: Emer Holbert, who has given me the courage to dig for music for my verses; and Lilli Haicken, who suggested the hap. leg. þorpskáru in line 4.

Kennings Used

gullkorni > "golden wheat/corn" > WARRIORS (in shining armor)
ljárvaldi > "scythe-wielders" > WARRIORS
vaðblóði > "blood-waders" > WARRIORS
ulfsvín > "wolf-wine" > BLOOD
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Thank you!

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

Foes and Friends Forever

For those of you who are in the SCA, you may have heard that I was elevated by TRM Andreas and Kallista to the Most Noble Order of the Laurel. Her Majesty then invited me to be one of her bards for the Known World Bardic Challenge at the Pennsic Wars. As you read this entry, the circle has ended, and the following poem received its world debut.

The theme of the circle was Enemies and Friends , and this poem catches the theme, I think.  It is written in English, in the dróttkvætt meter. The kennings are pretty simple.

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Foes and Friends Forever

Battle joined by bitter bold foes crying old gripes - blood is let by blade-Tyrs blasting horns call fast spears. Sword-storm's lightning seering seething helm-lines heaving - Iron-gods' knights-errant On field reddened yield not. Day's heat on the hot field hammers foes in gam'sons drives the sword-tree droves drained of precious rains-gift. Seek the helm-folk sacred sups of Odin's cup-streams. Find they there the fiend-men friends to glad-night's ending. Joined by valor's gentle jumbling, spear-foes humbled honor's love find intact. Armored not gainst harm now, point-din yields til pint-song peals from laughing steel-oaks - spear-trees come from spar-storm sword-gods hug their war-friends.

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You can hear the poem by clicking below:

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I hope you enjoyed the poem. Please let me know by commenting below or by writing me.

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 dý "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.

A Teaser for "GeirÞeyr" (Spear-Storm)

This full poem will make its debut on May 5th at Crown Tournament in the Barony of Delftwood (Syracuse, NY). It is a revision of a previous drapa (long poem with refrain). The purpose of revision is improvement, of course; in this case, the improvement has generally been in rhyme scheme, especially the internal rhymes. However, the one verse you will get today is somewhat different. My original thought was to try a quick experiment in runhendr, a verse form with rhymed couplets. Looking back at this one verse, I understood that I had been only partially successful. I had rhyme, but it was only partial or loose rhyme, where runhendr calls for exact rhyme.

In browsing the Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages website, I came across a metre called dróttkvætt runhendr, which may be best described as a hybrid form, with dróttkvætt length lines and runhendr rhyme. Here is an example, a lausavisr (loose verse) written by Bjorn Kálfsson, in approximately 1182:

Fant sék hvern á hesti,
hér's nú siðr enn vesti,
(leið eigum vér langa)
en lendir menn ganga;
hirðmenn skulu hlaupa,
hér esat gótt til kaupa,
(munka mǫrgu kvíða),
en matsveinar ríða.

This verse mocks soldiers fleeing on foot from a battle, for having left their horses behind:

Prose Translation: I see every servant on a horse and the landsmen walking; now here's the worst habit; we have a long way to go. The retainers must run and the cooks are riding; there's no good bargain here; I'm not going to fear much.

You can see the regular line length, the presence of some alliteration (though not as strict as classic dróttkvætt metre) and the addition of the end-rhyme.

This is the metre I aimed at in my revision. Below you have the original verse, which was written in late Spring 2011, on the left and the revised version on the right. The prose translations follow the verses.

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Original Verse	Revised Verse
Rúni minna rekka rikis-faðirs sagna hug-runr Munin halda Hugin geirþey á-gætta holt-græn brynjar  hafta holt-græn riki heilsa Bil-seim fríðust blása Baldr-styr mattig beita	Rúni minna rekka fǫður Mímirs drekkja hugrúnar Munin halda geirþeyar Hugin skalda brynjar hafta holt-græn! riki heilsa holt-græn! Bil-seims fríðust beiddi ok bága ljóna leiddi

Original verse: Counselor of warriors remember your ancestors' lessons.  Munin holds wisdom and Hugin praises battle [geir-þey  “spear breeze” > BATTLE].  The Sylvan army [brynjar  “mail-shirts” > WARRIORS > ARMY] joins; The Sylvan realm salutes!  Fairest queen [Bil-seim “Goddess of gold” > QUEEN] inspires!  Mighty king [Baldr-styr “God of war” > KING] leads!

Revised verse: Counselor of warriors remember your ancestors' lessons [Mímirs drekkja “Mimir’s drink > Wisdom giant’s drink > WISDOM]. Munin holds wisdom and Hugin praises battle [geirþeyar “spear storms” > BATTLE]. The Sylvan army [brynjar “mail-shirts” > WARRIORS > ARMY] joins; The Sylvan realm salutes! Fairest queen [Bil-seims “Goddess of gold” > QUEEN] inspires! Mighty king [bága ljóna “Fighter of men" > KING] leads!

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The difference may seem subtle, but having the full rhymes makes a big difference in both appearance and sound. In this type of verse, form may trump meaning.

If you have comments or questions, you can leave them here, contact me at Facebook, or write me.