Category: poetry

  • jigsaw daze

    my madness song at
    yellow paper tigers
    stretching from walls
    i arm claw trying
    to find a way out
    all the while
    grinding glass teeth
    & chewing at tinsel

    i have earned my way
    to straw dog state &
    mantic ghosts of that
    neverpast & nevermore, sing:
    shake shake shake dog shake

    an ugly break at mirrors
    in these jigsaw daze
    no one could know
    there would be
    so much
    blood
  • casting runes — 30jan26

    pertho
    what does this
    stormwashed beach offer?
    let us toss bones, rattle teeth,
    carve our skin &
    slip with the undertow;
    what treasures we may find...

    A 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.

  • mantra

    ...michael don't dream
    michael don't dream
    michael don't dream
    michael don't dream
    michael don't dream....
  • casting runes — 29jan26

    kenaz
    burning on the inside
    seeking cooling ground
    to draw this feverdream
    from head to stone

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

    Today’s rune is kenaz, which has been translated as both “torch” and “ulcer” . It is conceived as symbolic of flame, which is the illuminated creativity as well as the source of purification/healing/cautery. Fire is a a source of transformation and unmaking as well as heat, passion and light. As an ulcer, kenaz can be associated with a fever or inflammation, perhaps a wound which requires healing.

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

  • recollection

    do you recall wrists
    bound in sailor's knot or
    was that only wraith?

    memories from mists or
    merely smoke & mirrors?
    tell me true, did years burn?

    beautiful darkling,
    do you recall the gloaming
    of our changeling time?
  • casting runes — 28jan26

    tiwaz
    with each sacrifice
    another face steps forward
    to fill the empty space

    we will not waver.
    justice must be served.

    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.

  • casting runes — 27jan26

    fehu
    ages of drought
    fields left fallow
    these bones & stones &
    the withered dusty husk
    ache for the love of rain

    A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.

    Today’s rune is fehu, which has a core meaning of “cattle” or a more generalized “livestock”, which was a representation of personal wealth or earned prosperity. Sometimes luck played a role. Wealth and prosperity was valued, but was looked down upon when material accumulation appeared to be excessive, greedy, miserly or turned to hoarding, especially when those around you were lacking.

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

  • chaos

    woke up tired
    washed up
    dragged down
    undertow and gone
    rip tide out away
    from shore
    past jagged
    black stones
    piercing waves
    and the ocean
    it pulled me
    so far away
    until i approached
    a ninth wave

    i woke up tired
    washed up
    not needing their
    chaos riding home
  • casting runes — 26jan26

    ansuz
    left to dangle at
    the ol' hanging tree &
    i cannot breathe
    without you
    mouth to mouth

    A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.

    Today’s rune is ansuz, which has a core meaning “a god” (intended to be Odin), “mouth” or “breath”. Odin is representative of many, many things… in this case, ansuz is most representative of the mouth/breath (speech) that gives life to poetry, magic, song, language, and spirit — largely inseparable in the Viking worldview — and Odin is considered the supreme master of these intertwined concepts. By way of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, the rune is named æsc, which is translated to “ash”, a tree associated with Odin and is representative of resilience and strength.

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

  • casting runes — 25jan26

    ingwaz
    oh sure, they said
    put your head inside, they said
    inside, you'll find a grand surprise

    it was all the rage, & so we did
    one cinch, one twist
    & we pushed dead

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

    Today’s rune is ingwaz, a rune named after the god Ing or Freyr. It is representative of a channeled energy or transformational process. It is also be seen as the male component of life, and therefore a symbol of sexual passions and the contributed “seed” of life (and, therefore, an aspect of one’s ancestral ørlǫg, or fate/destiny). Some interpretations conceive the rune as a symbol of darkness, solitude or dreaming.

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