Author: michael raven

  • casting runes — 05jan25

    mannaz
    scrimblindeyes & staggerfall
    mask up, mask up
    she crowcalls & so
    allfacesup & whiteblank
    everyone undances
    that skeletonwaltz

    A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.

    Today’s rune is mannaz, a rune that translates to “man” in the sense of “humankind”. The rune is associated with family and the social order, and in trusting the intuitive process or seeing clearly — both from within and from without. Mannaz influences relationships of all kinds, including those of a romantic nature, and encourages compassion, for oneself as well as for others.

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

  • half-penny thoughts — 05jan26

    I’m probably overlooking quite a few artists, but it sure seems like the vast majority of them these days are very serious about their music.

    That’s not to say that I didn’t listen to and work with musicians in the past who were very serious about their music, but it seemed there were more folks in earlier eras who were a lot less serious about it. Or, they were serious musician who leaned into satire instead of saying things like, “We are artistes, not baboons. Go away and baboon elsewhere.”

    (more…)

  • vagary

    Photo by Adarsh Kummur on Unsplash
    i have given to sacrifice my sleeve
    it grows cold with naught pinned
              nor sewn
    and i have not much need of it
              anymore
              anyway

    having gone to mud
    ravens scrimshaw my bone
    a stern reminder of place
    bound in baling cut flesh
              deep

    do you recall lace curtains'
    gentle ruffle of summer breeze?

  • the story ends

    this is how the story ends
    with whispers & turnaway eyes
    under midnight skies
    they shuffle from shade to fade
    forgetting color & tone
    given to ash on tongue
    lacking substance at touch
    howling as we slip away

  • casting runes — 04jan26

    nauthiz
    a disused, crooked trail
    leading from the main

    few choose this path
    due to hardship, harry & thorn
    but crows beckon, call—
    it is also the path
    of greater reward

    A rune poem, based on an Elder Futhark rune selected at random.

    Today’s rune is nauthiz, which has a core meaning of “need”. Alternative translations have been “hardship” or “constraint”. Among other interpretations, nauthiz is seen as a indicative of a transition or transformation, a period of learning or strengthening of resilience, lacking, change, and impermanence — inclusive of other related concepts.

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