Category: poetry

  • burnt toast

    burnt toast persists
    a gift from those wee
    those best unseen
    lingering at the shadow
    i have not the dream
    to share that their gift
    is welcome not in these
    grey hours kissed
    with gold

  • galdr: now in hardcover

    hey all.

    a new addition of my first published book is now in larger format and available in hardcover. i just got my copy today and it looks great.

    if you haven’t purchased it previously, and feel like giving me a little support, you should check out the larger size and consider purchasing a copy.

    — via amazon —

  • river her river

    i stare to shadow
    a longing to bleed clean
    to scrape to bone me and
    tumble stone like i once knew

    river her name river
    this she is song whispered
    on the wind of reeds
    summer swept over waters

    cross cut the barbedwire
    cling the ruddy fur between
    run though shadow and song
    river her name river
    bleeds clean

  • drift, unrudder drift

    on the drift, unrudder
    since lilac scented at
    fisherman's wharf
    in a pinch of snuff

    the bouys no longer
    ring warnings, love
    before boats break
    against the rocks

    rain pierces waves
    at the unrudder drift

  • Half-Penny Thoughts — 10apr26

    This morning, I asked Claude to provide a general evaluation of the poetry on this site, mostly for shits and giggles. Sometimes I feel I am too close to my own poetry to critically evaluate what I write, so I felt it would be helpful to get the opinion from “someone” without a stake in providing me feedback — not cog greasing or a sense of friendly obligation to make me happy. [Note: Claude was not informed that I am the author of this site, so it has no reason to lean into saying nice things to me about my poetry.]

    (more…)

  • casting runes — 09apr26

    nauthiz
    a question of need
    fades the scene and i
    wade bonefields at night
    seeking sequels
    in the beyond

    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.

  • casting runes — 08apr26

    tiwaz
    all years stretch &
    become one long thread
    with fires burning low

    letting go to quell
    winter wolf's appetites

    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.

  • long trellis

    seeking betweens in blind
    i keep going back to the fog
    clouding anne’s crown
    crossroads slick long ago

    feeding ravens without words
    i was given a promise song —
    naught but fever dreams,
    it seems and now i slender
    to empty and ached aging

    long the trellis climbs

  • casting runes — 05apr26

    algiz
    raven wool-gathers
    while hopping through
    puddles, spring rain
    under twist-old tree

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

    Today’s rune is algiz, which may mean either “elk” (there is some uncertainty if this is the case) or yew (Old Norse). It is associated with the Otherworld, protection/sanctuary, and with guardian spirits/fylgja. The unconscious mind is also sometimes associated with algiz.

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

  • exquisite corpse

    and here is the nothing
    this exquisite corpse we've laid
    lines twist on transverse
    turned in upon the day

    a feast upon the empty and
    graves cast within the shade
    in witness to the lonely
    this exquisite corpse we've laid