shedding such skins as these is a
matter of embracing one's agonies
even when the fit has gone dodgy
back before time's mists rolled in
clinging sores and calloused regrets
linger in the tenderest of spaces, so
it is best, face set to grimace, to rip
and give over a hey, nonny, nonny
Author: michael raven
of giving over
feast
i feel a drift
coming on &
may take the fade
on a spell;
nothing ever remains
for the feast
at meHalf-penny thoughts (pt 2) — 09dec25
In completely unrelated news…
Is it my imagination or are a lot of comments on folks’ blogs starting to look like bots/AI wrote them?
I was scrolling through a few comments on other sites and I’ve noticed that more of them are increasingly sound “off”. Commentors with this flavor of comments don’t dare add value to the conversations; they seem mostly to confirm and affirm. And the truly “weird” ones seem to miss the main topic of discussion entirely, often glomming onto something said in passing.
Maybe I’m just paranoid? Or a grump? Maybe I need more cigarettes.
In still other news:
I’minlovewiththegirlwhoworksatthestorewhereI’mnothingbutacustomer…
Half-penny thoughts — 09dec25
Odd day today: I found out an old bandmate’s spouse was found unresponsive this morning in bed. Cause of death, TBD. He just woke up next to her and she was no longer there. She was in her early 50s with no real history of chronic illness that I am aware of. He certainly seemed surprised by the news.
(more…)casting runes — 09dec25
pertho pips & bones
stonecast & thrown
cutting jesses & tethers
winter the winds &
gone on the driftA poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.
Today’s rune is pertho, which has a disputed meaning and there is some indication that any proposed meanings might be based on a corrupted interpretation. The general consensus is that there is likely some relationship to ørlǫg (fate/destiny), luck/gambling or perhaps hidden knowledge.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
empty
Photo by Cornelia Munteanu on Unsplash empty of understanding...
when i say i am stone,
i am not stone, i am stone
when i say i will river
i do not river, i just river
when i branch at tree
i am not branch, but i am tree
when i say of she i dream
it is not she, but it is me
these are times my vandal mouth
should be sutured shut
before someone sees
these broken words i bleedsoon, no one will call and read nothing back to me.
casting runes — 08dec25
mannaz stray midday sunlight
melts sieidi hoar
so that stone
needs never
speakA 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.
stripped
carving obsidian beyond bone
scraping down to marrow
still more: how can you cut further?
by slipping to shadows of shadows
to places behind the behind
kissing flint in the darkest of times
we grew of flowers once
we grew of trees, now
snow stained scarlet...
stripped to heartwood
we stand the granite over doorscasting runes — 07dec25
wunjo silent the flurries
eddy between boughs
my back warmed by fire
eyes all antler & stone
in this forever—
only the crackle-pop,
wood devoured by flameA rune poem, based on an Elder Futhark rune selected at random.
Today’s rune is wunjo, which is translated as “joy” and has been interpreted in both the earthly sense as well as in spiritual ecstasy. It has been associated with healing (emotional, mental and interpersonal) and some sources connect the rune to luck, the act of making a wish, or applied will. Wunjo can also be the inspiration for creativity.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
