A Skald's Journey: ravens

Showing posts with label ravens. Show all posts

Thursday, November 21, 2013

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!

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Songs for Wolves!

Hi, there. I'm sort of between verses (got two or three more to go on the latest poem, then polishing and revision). So, here are a couple of SCA-related songs I've written. As a brief explanation, I live in the Barony of Thescorre, which is located in the Rochester, NY, area ("Thescorre" being an anagram of "Rochester"). The Kingdom (or regional group) we belong to is the Kingdom of Aethelmearc. The Kingdom to the North of us is Ealdormere (the Province of Ontario). We often jibe good-naturedly about the Great Lakes as the Inland Seas, and dispute over who owns them. And, we are presently engaged in The Great Aethelmearc-Ealdormere Cross-Border Bardic Tiff and Colour War which began here.

These two songs, in English (as Old Norse can be as hard as Korean), feature the Baron of Thescorre (which has three ravens on its arms) repelling an invasion of the Grey Wolves of Ealdormere. It seems that such mockery has caused some folks to go a bit nuclear, and to threaten us with their verbal missiles.

I hope that you'll enjoy the results of our bardic conclave.

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Wolves Song # 1 (The Foxes Song)	Wolves Song # 2 (The Grey Wolves Song¹)
The wolves came down to sing one night They gathered in a circle in the pale moonlight The other creatures fled in fright As the wolves put up their howl, oh foul-o, growl-o The other creatures fled in fright as the wolves put up their howl-o They bayed at the man who sat in the moon While the dog ducked out with a cow and spoon Then they boarded a boat on the lake with the loons¹ and they crossed the Inland Seas-o freeze-o, please-o they boarded a boat on the lake with the loons and they crossed the Inland Seas-o The wolves struck sails and manned the oars Til they beached their boat on a rocky shore For they had come to High Thescorre Where the ravens rule the roost-o Loose-o, goose-o For they had come to High Thescorre Where the ravens rule the roost-o The Grey Wolves formed up nice and neat All spiffed out from their ears to their feet For they had come to steal some meat And they were counting ku-o² one-o, two-o For they had come to steal some meat And they were counting ku-o The Raven chief was Bobby Dubh³ The wolves all called him the Raven Boob But the Ravens knew he was nobody's noob When his armor he strapped on-o br> on-o, Don-Ho But the Ravens knew he was nobody's noob When his armor he strapped on-o The Raven troops stood to the fray The archers's arrows found their prey Soon the mighty grey wolves scurried away With new feathers in their bums-o some-o, dumb-o And the mighty grey wolves scurried away With new feathers in their bums-o Away they scampered, the puppies tamed Back across the puffin plain⁴ Long on lyrics, but short on brains And the Ravens drank their beer-o cheer-o, hero-o Long on lyrics, but short on brains And the Ravens drank their beer-o So to Ealdormere, let this lesson be Don't come across OUR Inland Seas Don't look to raid our ku & sheeps Or your ending will be grim-o Slim-o, trimmed-o Don't look to raid our ku & sheeps Or your ending will be grim-o	CHORUS: For we sail cross our inland seas Come to the Grey Wolves' hall on the breeze Yes, we sail cross our inland seas To visit the grey wolves, may we sit down please? We sit in our mead hall, as your ease you take Your singing and yelling, they keep us awake You drink and carouse, as your thirst you slake! We work in the morning, you hosers! Would you please pipe down, fer Chrissake! CHORUS We are simple farmers of mutton and ku Your cattle are lowing, we hear your ku moo If you do not want them, we will take home a few Thanks for the sheep and the critters We'll sell cheeze and milk back to you CHORUS We're rowing our ships as this ditty we sing We have flaming grenades to toss from our slings Because you have no doorbell for our King to ring Your city walls seem to be burning You're lucky - marshmellows we bring CHORUS Your Aethelmearc cousins have come home to roost We bring back the ravens your grey wolves have loosed As we're hunting for loons, beaver, and squirtlemoose² We hope you like our Southern comfort It may give your spirits a boost! CHORUS TWICE

Wolves Song # 1
(The Foxes Song)

Wolves Song # 2
(The Grey Wolves Song¹)

The wolves came down to sing one night
They gathered in a circle in the pale moonlight
The other creatures fled in fright
As the wolves put up their howl, oh
foul-o, growl-o
The other creatures fled in fright
as the wolves put up their howl-o

They bayed at the man who sat in the moon
While the dog ducked out with a cow and spoon
Then they boarded a boat on the lake with the loons¹
and they crossed the Inland Seas-o
freeze-o, please-o
they boarded a boat on the lake with the loons
and they crossed the Inland Seas-o

The wolves struck sails and manned the oars
Til they beached their boat on a rocky shore
For they had come to High Thescorre
Where the ravens rule the roost-o
Loose-o, goose-o
For they had come to High Thescorre
Where the ravens rule the roost-o

The Grey Wolves formed up nice and neat
All spiffed out from their ears to their feet
For they had come to steal some meat
And they were counting ku-o²
one-o, two-o
For they had come to steal some meat
And they were counting ku-o

The Raven chief was Bobby Dubh³
The wolves all called him the Raven Boob
But the Ravens knew he was nobody's noob
When his armor he strapped on-o br> on-o, Don-Ho
But the Ravens knew he was nobody's noob
When his armor he strapped on-o
The Raven troops stood to the fray
The archers's arrows found their prey
Soon the mighty grey wolves scurried away
With new feathers in their bums-o
some-o, dumb-o
And the mighty grey wolves scurried away
With new feathers in their bums-o

Away they scampered, the puppies tamed
Back across the puffin plain⁴
Long on lyrics, but short on brains
And the Ravens drank their beer-o
cheer-o, hero-o
Long on lyrics, but short on brains
And the Ravens drank their beer-o

So to Ealdormere, let this lesson be
Don't come across OUR Inland Seas
Don't look to raid our ku & sheeps
Or your ending will be grim-o
Slim-o, trimmed-o
Don't look to raid our ku & sheeps
Or your ending will be grim-o

CHORUS:

For we sail cross our inland seas
Come to the Grey Wolves' hall on the breeze
Yes, we sail cross our inland seas
To visit the grey wolves, may we sit down please?

We sit in our mead hall, as your ease you take
Your singing and yelling, they keep us awake
You drink and carouse, as your thirst you slake!
We work in the morning, you hosers!
Would you please pipe down, fer Chrissake!

CHORUS

We are simple farmers of mutton and ku
Your cattle are lowing, we hear your ku moo
If you do not want them, we will take home a few
Thanks for the sheep and the critters
We'll sell cheeze and milk back to you
CHORUS

We're rowing our ships as this ditty we sing
We have flaming grenades to toss from our slings
Because you have no doorbell for our King to ring
Your city walls seem to be burning
You're lucky - marshmellows we bring

CHORUS

Your Aethelmearc cousins have come home to roost
We bring back the ravens your grey wolves have loosed
As we're hunting for loons, beaver, and squirtlemoose²
We hope you like our Southern comfort
It may give your spirits a boost!

CHORUS TWICE

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wolves Song # 1

¹ - loons - Ealdormereans, from the totemic bird on their money.
² - ku - cattle/cows from the Old Norse kus, kus! cow, cow! a milkmaid's call and the English moo! moo!.
³ - Bobby Dubh - "Black Bobby" from the names of the three ravens on Thescorre's banner: Hugin, Munin, and, of course Bob.
⁴ - puffin plain - a kenning for the sea.

Wolves Song # 2

¹ - The Grey Wolves Song - The original melody for this Wolves Song is the iconic The Wolves Song written by Master Hector of the Black Height.
² - squirtlemoose - the product of the genetic experiments in Great White Northern Cross-Breeding. Behold the Mighty Squirlemoose!

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Like Them? Hate Them? Ready For CROSS-BORDER BARDIC RUGGERS?

Please leave a comment below or send me e-mail. Thank you!

Friday, March 15, 2013

Saleem drápa goðinn (Drápa for Saleem the Chieftain)

Again, I am writing about a dear friend. Saleem ibn Alefan was the second Baron of Thescorre and has been a marshall (trainer of fighters) in our Barony for many years. Today, he is fighting a brave battle with cancer. This is written for him. Once again, this erfidrápa is premature, and again I pray that both he and my readers live for a very long time.

The form is Ljóðaháttr:

The ljóðaháttr stanza typically contains six lines or two units of three lines each. The first two lines in each unit are connected by alliteration, and the third is also decorated with alliteration. The first two lines have at least two beats and the third three beats.

Source: (http://www.trobar.org/prosody/pnort.php)

You will note that many of the verses in the body of the poem are repeating. The first parts of these verses are largely based on the HÁVAMÅL (The Counsel of Óthinn the One-Eyed) edited and translated by Jackson Crawford.

The recordings will be added in the next few days.

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Saleem drápa goðinn (Drapa for Saleem the Chieftain)

Old Norse Verses	Poetic Translation
Stef: Skeggjaðr herra stǫndum prúðliga snarr svanbekkjar sól gunngjóð spjotar góma fólkið leyfa láðvǫrðr lunda gunnborðs. Visur: Heyr þu spakræður ef sækir mundu af randa hreggbjóðr Opts gott þat es gamlir kveða; opt ýr skơrpum belg skilin orð koma; Nú heyrþu orð skaldins hárra, gamla ok tannlaussa allþơrf ýta sonum, heill sás kva. heill sás kann, njóti sás nam, heilir þeirs hlýddu. (stef) Sifjum es þá blandat hverr es segja ræðr einum allan hugaldr. Svá með hann - goða hrafnar - beztrar vináttu ok helztrar. Sifjum es þá blandat hverr es segja ræðr einum allan hugaldr. Svá með hann - hærra þegn prúðr hlut fríðmǫnnum hafi gefit. (Stef) Fróðr sá þykkisk es fregna kann ok segja it sama. Svá með hann - ráðsmann síðgóðan launtals skjólsman slæligan. Fróðr sá þykkisk es fregna kann ok segja it sama. Svá með hann - Grœðir vísdóms er hrafnsheim til vigafar fylgir. Fróðr sá þykkisk es fregna kann ok segja it sama. Svá með hann - herra hniplings, ríkismanna raðunautr. (Stef) Lifa með drengskap allt líf þín ok vil skylfi nipt Fenris að nema þú Svá með hann - rǫskvast Hrafnsgóði fyrst til hríðar Fróða. Lifa með drengskap allt líf þín ok vil skylfi nipt Fenris að nema þú Svá með hann - Grimmast gjóða Fíðrirjóðr Yggjar. (Stef) Esat maðr alls vesall þótt hánn sé illa heill - sumr es af frændum sæll, Svá með hann - lindar línu fríðill ok vin ljúfastr. Esat maðr alls vesall þótt hánn sé illa heill - sumr es af frændum sæll, Svá með hann - álptar-blíða dóttir ástúðligast. Esat maðr alls vesall þótt hánn sé illa heill - sumr es af frændum sæll, Svá með hann - Fygja fast són djárfastr ok bezt hugaðr. (Stef) Glaðr ok reifr skyli gumna hverr unz sinn bíðr bana. Svá með hann - á Dauði segir orð sætastu ok hvatastu. Glaðr ok reifr skyli gumna hverr unz sinn bíðr bana. Svá með oss - Láta lærið frá lífi honum vega dugnaðar. (Stef)	Refrain: Bearded chieftain bravely stands hero of the swan´s bench sun. Palate spears of people praise the land-keeper leader of the shield trees. Verses: Hear you wisdom if seek you would of the bringer of the shield storm. wisdom dwells in old men's hearts; oft from gray-beards wise words come. Hear you words of the hoary skald, old and toothless, all for men's good. Health to you who speak them, Health to you who know them, Joy to you who learn them, Health to you who hear them. (Refrain) Men are friends when they can share their minds' fruit without fear. Thus with him - Raven's Chieftain, of all comrades best and truest. Men are friends when they can share their minds' fruit without fear. Thus with him - to men of peace the brave thegn his greatest share has given. (Refrain) He seems wise who knows the answer and knows how to explain it. Thus with him - counselor honest - well-versed secret keeper. He seems wise who knows the answer and knows how to explain it. Thus with him - Wisdom-feeder Ravenhome's war-leader. He seems wise who knows the answer and knows how to explain it. Thus with him - pelican-lord gentle counsellor of Kings. (Refrain) Live with bravery all thy life and Hel will fear to seize you. Thus with him - brave Raven´s leader first to the storm of Fróði. Live with bravery all thy life and Hel will fear to seize you. Thus with him - osprey feeder Yggjar's feather reddener (Refrain) Soul-wretched is no man even if he weakens - men find happiness in their kin. Thus with him - of head-dress linden - dearest friend and lover. Soul-wretched is no man even if he weakens - men find happiness in their kin. Thus with him - of swan's grace lovely- dearest friend and father. Soul-wretched is no man even if he weakens - men find happiness in their kin. Thus with him - of scion stout-heart - dearest friend and father. (Refrain) Man should also cheerful be, till certain death comes for him. Thus with him - to Death speaks he sweetest words and bravest. Man should also cheerful be, till certain death comes for him. Thus with us - Let us learn from his life valor´s ways. (Refrain)

Old Norse Verses

Poetic Translation

Stef:

Skeggjaðr herra
stǫndum prúðliga
snarr svanbekkjar sól
gunngjóð spjotar
góma fólkið
leyfa láðvǫrðr lunda gunnborðs.

Visur:

Heyr þu spakræður
ef sækir mundu
af randa hreggbjóðr
Opts gott þat es gamlir kveða;
opt ýr skơrpum belg
skilin orð koma;

Nú heyrþu orð skaldins
hárra, gamla ok tannlaussa
allþơrf ýta sonum,
heill sás kva.
heill sás kann,
njóti sás nam,
heilir þeirs hlýddu.

(stef)

Sifjum es þá blandat
hverr es segja ræðr
einum allan hugaldr.
Svá með hann -
goða hrafnar -
beztrar vináttu ok helztrar.

Sifjum es þá blandat
hverr es segja ræðr
einum allan hugaldr.
Svá með hann -
hærra þegn prúðr
hlut fríðmǫnnum hafi gefit.

(Stef)

Fróðr sá þykkisk
es fregna kann
ok segja it sama.
Svá með hann -
ráðsmann síðgóðan
launtals skjólsman slæligan.

Fróðr sá þykkisk
es fregna kann
ok segja it sama.
Svá með hann -
Grœðir vísdóms
er hrafnsheim til vigafar fylgir.

Fróðr sá þykkisk
es fregna kann
ok segja it sama.
Svá með hann -
herra hniplings,
ríkismanna raðunautr.

(Stef)

Lifa með drengskap
allt líf þín
ok vil skylfi nipt Fenris að nema þú
Svá með hann -
rǫskvast Hrafnsgóði
fyrst til hríðar Fróða.

Lifa með drengskap
allt líf þín
ok vil skylfi nipt Fenris að nema þú
Svá með hann -
Grimmast gjóða
Fíðrirjóðr Yggjar.

(Stef)

Esat maðr alls vesall
þótt hánn sé illa heill -
sumr es af frændum sæll,
Svá með hann -
lindar línu
fríðill ok vin ljúfastr.

Esat maðr alls vesall
þótt hánn sé illa heill -
sumr es af frændum sæll,
Svá með hann -
álptar-blíða
dóttir ástúðligast.

Esat maðr alls vesall
þótt hánn sé illa heill -
sumr es af frændum sæll,
Svá með hann -
Fygja fast són
djárfastr ok bezt hugaðr.

(Stef)

Glaðr ok reifr
skyli gumna hverr
unz sinn bíðr bana.
Svá með hann -
á Dauði segir
orð sætastu ok hvatastu.

Glaðr ok reifr
skyli gumna hverr
unz sinn bíðr bana.
Svá með oss -
Láta lærið
frá lífi honum vega dugnaðar.

(Stef)

Refrain:

Bearded chieftain
bravely stands
hero of the swan´s bench sun.
Palate spears of people
praise the land-keeper
leader of the shield trees.

Verses:

Hear you wisdom
if seek you would
of the bringer of the shield storm.
wisdom dwells in old men's hearts;
oft from gray-beards
wise words come.

Hear you words
of the hoary skald,
old and toothless, all for men's good.
Health to you who speak them,
Health to you who know them,
Joy to you who learn them,
Health to you who hear them.

(Refrain)

Men are friends
when they can share
their minds' fruit without fear.
Thus with him -
Raven's Chieftain,
of all comrades best and truest.

Men are friends
when they can share
their minds' fruit without fear.
Thus with him -
to men of peace the brave thegn
his greatest share has given.

(Refrain)

He seems wise
who knows the answer
and knows how to explain it.
Thus with him -
counselor honest -
well-versed secret keeper.

He seems wise
who knows the answer
and knows how to explain it.
Thus with him -
Wisdom-feeder
Ravenhome's war-leader.

He seems wise
who knows the answer
and knows how to explain it.
Thus with him -
pelican-lord gentle
counsellor of Kings.

(Refrain)

Live with bravery
all thy life
and Hel will fear to seize you.
Thus with him -
brave Raven´s leader
first to the storm of Fróði.

Live with bravery
all thy life
and Hel will fear to seize you.
Thus with him -
osprey feeder
Yggjar's feather reddener

(Refrain)

Soul-wretched is no man
even if he weakens -
men find happiness in their kin.
Thus with him -
of head-dress linden -
dearest friend and lover.

Soul-wretched is no man
even if he weakens -
men find happiness in their kin.
Thus with him -
of swan's grace lovely-
dearest friend and father.

Soul-wretched is no man
even if he weakens -
men find happiness in their kin.
Thus with him -
of scion stout-heart -
dearest friend and father.

(Refrain)

Man should also
cheerful be,
till certain death comes for him.
Thus with him -
to Death speaks he
sweetest words and bravest.

Man should also
cheerful be,
till certain death comes for him.
Thus with us -
Let us learn
from his life valor´s ways.

(Refrain)

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Kennings Used

svanbekkjar sól > sun of the swan's bench > sun of the river > GOLD
spjotar góma > spears of the palate > TONGUES
Láðvǫrðr > land-keeper > BARON
gunnborðs > shield trees > WARRIORS

hreggbjóðr > shield-storm > WAR
randa hreggbjóðr > bringer of the shield-storm > WARRIOR
hugaldr > mind fruit > THOUGHTS
goða hrafnar > raven's chieftain > THESCORRE BARON
Grœðir vísdóms > wisdom feeder > COUNSELLOR
hrafnsheim > ravens' home > THESCORRE
vigafar fylgir > war-way leader > CHIEFTAIN
herra hniplings > pelican-lord > COMPANION OF THE PELICAN
ríkismanna raðunautr > king's man wisdom-bringer > COUNSELLOR
nipt Fenris > sister of Fenris > HEL
Hrafnsgóði > raven's chieftain > THESCORRE BARON
hríðar Fróða > storm of Fróði > WAR
Grimmast gjóða > osprey feeder > WARRIOR
FíðrirYggjar > feathers of Yggjar > feathers of Odin >RAVEN
Fíðrirjóðr Yggjar > reddener of the feathers of Yggjar > WARRIOR
lindar línu > linden of the head-dress > WOMAN, WIFE
álptar-blíða > swan's grace > MAIDEN, DAUGHTER
Fygja fast són > scion stout-heart > BRAVE SON

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Please leave a comment below or send me e-mail. Thank you!

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!

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.

===========================

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

Friday, December 2, 2011

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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