• casting runes — 13feb26

    michael raven

    tiwaz
    standing as stone
    my blood waters earth while
    ink-stained fingers smudge
    the performative lies smeared
    crimson across the page

    A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.

    Today’s rune is tiwaz, which is named after the Norse god Týr, and the second weekday (Tuesday) is named for the god. According to Norse myth, Týr offers his right hand to the wolf Fenrir, who bites it off when he realizes the gods have used the offering to distract the wolf while they bind him. The rune is typically considered symbolic of honor, loyalty and justice, as well as of sacrifice. It may be representative of discipline and faith. Some interpretations have associated the rune with the North Star.

    Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.

    tagged:

    , , ,

    filed under:

    To like/comment:

    casting runes — 13feb26

  • ripsaw

    michael raven 

    poplar crowing at height
    a city's dirty snow
    stretched out below me
    leaning into tumble
    for but to pray to fly—
    a ripsaw shredding harsh
    songs against the grain

    tagged:

    , ,

    filed under:

    To like/comment:

    ripsaw

  • hollows

    michael raven

    I am gnawing at black ice, waiting to become real while taking in all obsidian and injecting it in my veins. I would offer you a taste, but I can already see your shard eyes speak and say, “Oh, I had planned to offer you mine.” I would not want your generosity to go to waste. So I gnaw.

    Sure sure, I’ll be paid in token for my taking — coin coming in kisses melting on the wind. Scant warmth, that. But enough heat for a haint, when we black ice gnaw the typic nights, I expect.

    My twin blind eyes haze over when I look to the east. Hollows, I say to none… There is no Avalon.

    tagged:

    ,

    filed under:

    To like/comment:

    hollows

  • Tom’s Studio Wren

    michael raven

    I think I may have found a new obsession: sustainable pens.

    photo: Tom’s Studio, https://tomsstudio.com

    Along with my conscious decision to stretch out my prose muscles in the coming months, I wanted to start developing an analogue note-taking/journaling habit (as it turns out, those muscles used for writing have atrophied as well, surprise surprise). In the early days of trying to move away from the keyboard to do some writing, I’ve discovered that my hands have lost all of their muscle tone when it comes to holding a stylus for any length of time.

    (more…)

    tagged:

    , , , ,

    filed under:

    To like/comment:

    Tom’s Studio Wren

  • casting runes — 12feb26

    michael raven

    raido
    gentle rocking, creaking wain
    twilight tints storm eyes
    returning to lost highways
    alone but for dense, winter fog

    A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.

    Today’s rune is raido, which has been translated as “ride” and the implied “journey”. This may be spatial and literal in practice (a physical journey), or it may be more figurative (an inner/shamanic journey, i.e., útiseta). The rune is associated with cyclic motion and the movement of the sun. Some consider the journey represented by raido to be that of returning.

    Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.

    tagged:

    , , ,

    filed under:

    To like/comment:

    casting runes — 12feb26