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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.