Category: poetry

  • casting runes — 18dec25

    raido
    his backstep to gloaming
    cloakworn & graveled
    as bonesky carries her down
    all at the edge before dreaming
    with raven feathers in their hair

    to awake?
    when cries burn obsidian

    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.

  • night, embers

    Photo by Trent Pickering on Unsplash
    given of shadows
    painted sliver moon
    a fingernail pressed to
    flesh renders cinnabar

    chipped-tooth, still
    i skate thin the edge
    pricked pine at all bends
    singing pain to wash pain
    — here we go again

    night, i slip to her embrace
    rooted inside
    a heart cries embers

  • casting runes — 17dec25

    othala
    i fell chasms
    i drowned lake bottoms
    to reclaim my ancient teeth

    old man crag
    accepted my pointed bone
    before he swept me home
    a-chatter on north winds

    A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.

    Today’s rune is othala, which has a core meaning of “heritage”, “inheritance” and “legacy”. These are all associated with home, kin, ancestors, stability and (in some interpretations) past lives or spiritual legacy.

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

  • beaivi

    kissing the horizon
    she slipsbone pale
    fingers slick of hope
    at return on the
    other side of night
    we wave and
    give to grave our
    many pasts on
    black wings
    of the crow

  • simple things:

    simple things:
    four different ways
    skies and stone
    above and below
    and those places
    left in between

    black sheen brow
    crossed of blood
    cut ashen
    i turn my
    flint head away