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~ Historical & Classical Poetry ~
The Icelandic Rune Poem
Jump to the modern English translation below
Notice the alliteration.
The first word in each fourth line is the rune´s Latin equivalent,
which is followed by an Old
Icelandic royal epithet.
Fé er frænda róg
ok flæðar viti
ok grafseiðs gata.
aurum ylkir
Úr er skýja grátr
ok skára þverrir
ok hirðis hatr.
umbre (imbre?) vísi
Þurs er kvenna kvöl
ok kletta búi
ok varðrúnar verr.
Saturnus þengill
Óss er algingautr
ok ásgarðs jöfurr,
ok valhallar vísi.
Jupiter oddviti
Reið er sitjandi sæla
ok snúðig ferð
ok jórs erfiði.
iter ræsir
Kaun er barna böl
ok bardaga [för]
ok holdfúa hús.
flagella konungr
Hagall er kaldakorn
ok krapadrífa
ok snáka sótt.
grando hildingr
Nauð er Þýjar þrá
ok þungr kostr
ok vássamlig verk.
opera niflungr
Íss er árbörkr
ok unnar þak
ok feigra manna fár.
glacies jöfurr
Ár er gumna góði
ok gott sumar
algróinn akr.
annus allvaldr
Sól er skýja skjöldr
ok skínandi röðull
ok ísa aldrtregi.
rota siklingr
Týr er einhendr áss
ok ulfs leifar
ok hofa hilmir.
Mars tiggi
Bjarkan er laufgat lim
ok lítit tré
ok ungsamligr viðr.
abies buðlungr
Maðr er manns gaman
ok moldar auki
ok skipa skreytir.
homo mildingr
Lögr er vellanda vatn
ok viðr ketill
ok glömmungr grund.
lacus lofðungr
Ýr er bendr bogi
ok brotgjarnt járn
ok fífu fárbauti.
arcus ynglingr
Modern English Translation
(Money) is the (cause of) strife among kinsmen,
and the fire of the flood-tide
and the path of the serpent.
gold "leader of the war-band"
(Drizzle) is the weeping of clouds,
and the diminisher of the rim of ice,
and (an object for) the herdsman's hate.
shadow (shower?) "leader"
(Thurs) is the torment of women,
and the dweller in the rocks,
and the husband of Vardh-rúna (a giantess?).
Saturn "ruler of the thing"
(Ase = Ódhinn) is the olden-father,
and Ásgardhr's chieftain,
and the leader of Valhöll.
Jupiter "point-leader"
(Riding) is a blessed sitting,
and a swift journey,
and the toil of the horse.
journey "worthy man"
(Sore) is the bale of children,
and a scourge,
and the house of rotten flesh.
whip "king = descendant of good kin"
(Hail) is a cold grain,
and a shower of sleet,
and the sickness (destroyer) of snakes.
hail "battle leader"
(Need) is the grief of the bondmaid,
and a hard condition to be in,
and toilsome work.
trouble "niflungr = descendant of the dead?"
(Ice) is the rind of the river,
and the roof of the waves,
and a danger for fey men.
ice "one who wears the boar-helm"
(Good harvest) is the profit of all men,
and a good summer,
and a ripened field.
year "all-ruler"
(Sun) is the shield of the clouds,
and a shining glory,
and the life-long sorrow (=destroyer) of ice.
wheel "descendant of the victorious one"
(Tyr) is the one-handed god,
and the leavings of the wolf,
and the ruler of the temple.
Mars "director"
(Birch twig) is a leafy limb,
and a little tree,
and a youthful wood.
silver fir "protector"
(Man) is the joy of man,
and the increase of dust,
and the adornment of ships.
human "generous one"
(Wetness) is churning water,
and a wide kettle,
and the land of fish.
lake "praise-worthy one"
(Yew) is a strung bow,
and brittle iron,
and Farbauti (= a giant) of the arrow.
bow, rainbow "descendant of Yngvi"
From: "Runelore: A Handbook of Esoteric Runology" by Edred Thorsson,
Samuel Weiser, Inc., New York, 1987
Images: © Analemma McKee Burrows
Faux stained glass originals, available at
Analemma´s
Glass Art and
Triangle
Heathens Crafts.
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