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)

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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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Harald's Christmas Preferences

This is from the Haraldkvæði by Þorbjorn hornklofi, which dates to the 11th century and is found in AM 45 fol. Also known as the Hrafnsmál, it is described by Lee M. Hollander, in Old Norse Poems, as follows

As here given it is pieced together from fragments found mainly in the large historical work called Fagrskinna, which contains a history of the Norwegian kings. There is considerable difficulty about the authorship of these portions, some editors considering stanzas 7 to 11, in particular, as a separate poem dealing with the battle in the Hafrs-firth. The remainder, with descriptions of the life at Harold’s court, is probably incomplete.

 The structure of the poem is simple. After the usual admonition to the assembled court to lend their ears, the poet tells us what he heard a raven—scavenger of the battle-field—say to a valkyrie who questions him about Harold’s deeds—naturally all warlike ones. For once, the scenes of carnage here described are individualized. There is grim Viking humor, a dramatic tension, a zest in these descriptions which one inevitably associates with a contemporary and participant. Upon her further questioning we are given realistic, even coarse-grained, glimpses of Harold’s youth, his many marriages, and his life at court with berserkers, skalds, and jugglers. In all this, the poem is likely to have set the fashion; possibly also in the alternation of meters. The greater part is in sonorous málaháttr, smaller portions also in lióthaháttr and fornyrthislag.

For Jóldagr, here is verse 6, which presents Haraldr as a hardy, battle-loving youth:

Úti vill jól drekka,

ef skal einn ráða,

fylkir enn framlyndi,

ok Freys leik heyja;

ungr leiddisk eldvelli

ok inni at sitja,

varma dyngju 
eða
vǫttu dúns fulla.

Fain outside would he drink
the ale at Yule-tide,
the fight-loving folk-warder,
and Frey’s-game play there.
Even half-grown,
he hated the hearthfire cozy,
the warm women’s room,
and the wadded down-mittens.

(þorbjorn hornklofi, Haraldskvæði (Hrafnsmál), v. 6; trans. Lee M. Hollander)

I don't know about all of that. I'll bet those vǫttu dúns fulla felt pretty good some cold Jólmorginn!

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.

Hrafnars ýr (Ravens' yews)

In the Barony of Thescorre (located in Rochester, NY), we have excellent archers. In celebration of these fine folk, I wrote the following poem. It involves an attack by certain raiders from the Kingdom of Ealdormere and how they are repelled by the brave archers of the Barony. From what I understand, this  poem may well start a bardic war with our friends from across the Inland Seas.

If so, while I may perish, I will struggle to the end. To wit,

"HAVE AT YOU, WOLVES OF THE BREED!"

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Hrafnars ýr Fram norðt vargsfjǫll fimvig fjándr sigla svandalir; nautfé kaupangs unýtast níðings-sunnar rifsa gangandi til gunnar geirviðir af myrkskógi - akraspillir ekrum undír traðkað sunnhreinn. Athos goði ýskelfir ættfólk kallar snjallast: Virkismenn varðatu vals Yggs heim með hagl skóds. Á barna gylðis berbeinn bogaþruma dundu! Með undreyr svartast svǫrrblóð svíneyg ulfgrár dreiftu! Svara ýglǫð Eadmund enski : Bogar bendum svarttyrf hrafnars sverjum með skirir Hǫgna firra! þrir skora bog-menn þermsligr þrymu Ullar fljúgask. Hergaupur harki hagli Finna vinna. Nóttfǫrullars norðr nóra hlaunnar ǫrbursti. Flyja dreypandi frenjar til festa gaula hestr. Of vǫll lunda válandi vargmenn sigǫrs targa; rekald vargham Roaks hrylla til heim sigla.

The Ravens' Yews War-skilled fiends from wolf-fells northern sail swan-dales; niðings-bastards pillage townfolk's useless cattle. Spear trees from dark woods marching to battle - destroyers of fields trample sun-bright acres. Athos bow-shaker, chieftain, calls to his best kinsfolk: Yeomen, Yggs gull's homeland defend with weapons hail! On Gyldis's-bastards bare-legged rain down your bow-thunder! With blackest blood-birds' wound-reeds scatter swine-eyed grey-wolves!" Edmund yew-glad English answered: Bend we bows - Raven´s black-turf we swear to defend with Hogni's showers! " Three score fittest bow-men Join in Ullar´s Thunder; Rabble of war-lynxes suffer Sami's hail. Little northern night-thieves' buttocks arrow-bristle. They flee to mooring-horses dropping cattle lowing. Across the plain of puffins wolfmen – war-shafts targets; Roak’s wolfish jetsam horrid sail homeward.

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Kennings Used

svandalir > swan's dale > SEA
níðings-sunnar > níðings sons > RAIDERS
geirviðir > spear trees > WARRIORS
akraspillir > destroyers of fields > WARRIORS

vals Yggs > gulls of Ygg > RAVENS
vals Yggs heim > gulls of Yggs home > THESCORRE
barna gylðis > Gyldis's bastards > RAIDERS
bogaþruma > bow-thunder > ARROWS
undreyr svartast svǫrrblóð > blackest bloodbirds' wound-reeds > blackest ravens' wound-reeds > ARROWS
ulfgrár > grey wolves > RAIDERS

skirir Hǫgna > Hogna's showers > ARROWS
þrymu Ullar > Ullar's thunder > BATTLE
hagli Finna > Sami's hail > ARROWS

Nóttfǫrullars > Night thieves > RAIDERS
festa gaula > mooring horses > SHIPS
vǫll lunda > plain of puffins > SEA
sigǫrs targa victory (or war) shafts targets> arrows' targets > RAIDERS
rekald vargham Roaks > Roak's wolfish jetsam > RAIDERS

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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.

Geirþeyr (Spear Storm)

This poem is a revision of Vigþeyr which I wrote last year. As I noted in a post not too long ago, the main improvements lie in the stef which is now in true runhendr, in the rhyme schemes which have been tightened, and in the grammar, which I believe has been much improved.

As this is a significantly longer poem than most of my efforts, I know it's difficult to get a grasp on in a blog reading. Because of this, I'm putting it up as a pdf which you can download and read at your leisure. Also, there is a recording you can listen to.

The poem itself is designed as a call to war for the seven baronies of our Kingdom. I hope that many will choose to read it.

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As always, your comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated,