Category: poetry

star to stone

lessons learned,
i fold up my life
tears and creases plenty
across a worn map
places to see through
the hills and vale
stuff it into my satchel
without ceremony
as i crush compass
underboot and follow
a star to stone

14 Nov 25

casting runes — 13nov25
raido
```
tasting the breath
of a weary world exhaling
while sitting chilled on
an autumn slope behind
i may have gone vulpine
tonight in the
heart of the wood
```
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.
13 Nov 25

passings

brambling on briar inside
deadfall viscera brittle
under autumn's low sun
hoar on the rooftops pale

i think we are done here
just a few more before

13 Nov 25

my eye

not chasing butterflies i
not watching foxfire tonight
wisps, they drift the willow
and there i turn my eye

she wraps her pale in shadow
she wraps my heart in wire
tug with bone scarred ivory
wrapping shades through my eye

bit lip to raw and scarlet
bit neck to pierce the sighs
inking skin with stars and night
sending ink to black my eye

12 Nov 25

casting runes — 12nov25
eihwaz
```
my spirit is shadow
flowing slow of evenfall river
where murky banks slip by
& all eyes turn away
while scarlet leaves
spin the eddies in-between
```
A rune poem, based on an Elder Futhark rune selected at random.
Today’s rune is eihwaz, it’s name meaning “yew”, is a rune of change and transformation. It represents the cycle of life/death/rebirth and is symbolic of the axis mundi (the world tree). The yew is envisioned as a path towards both the underworld and the heavenly realms. It is associated both with poison and protection as part of its perceived dual nature.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
12 Nov 25

on the ridge

this, i foxfoot mine
under the flint
waiting on rime
this, old ways skein
tangled up on me

here, mosshaired stone
under the rain
waiting on time
here, poppet a pocket
tangled up on line

11 Nov 25

casting runes — 11nov25
hagalaz
```
this crashing down
to shatter against rock
to freeze all ties
...to break

some storms
go that way;
not all can bring
forth gentle rain
```
A rune poem, based on an Elder Futhark rune selected at random.
Today’s rune is hagalaz, which has a core meaning of “hail”, which was associated with potential, transformation, renewal and change; hail is imagined a seed from which change will arise. Hagalaz is also seen as representative of things beyond our control: a clash between fire and ice.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
11 Nov 25

bondage

seeking the heartwood,
i throw off the burden
of toxic positivity and
viral negativity
i cut all flesh to bone

this is not a love song.

gaining the blind
securing the deaf
embracing the empty
i scratch
my rune bones black

all else is bondage

11 Nov 25

hungers the wind

i have drawn lines
along the trees
dreaming worlds within,
time to set aside fevers--

we swing heartache
for her hills hollow
but now there is
naught left but
for the dying

willow willow
hungers the winter winds

10 Nov 25

casting runes — 09nov25
fehu
```
i plant my ash
on the windswept—
lichen, mycelium, moss,
the rolling hummocks
littered in stone

overcast, the skies
weigh down

what riches i have
to share
```
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.
09 Nov 25