she honey dripping over &
barbed wire kisses hunger
ivory rakes to shivers again
in shibari taut of crimson
dark nails wet glisten
oh lady new moon a sigh
Category: poetry
new moon a sigh
casting runes — 18feb26
algiz blood flowers left in water
no promises made of safety
every step takes its price
closer to the evermoreA 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.
dream harder in dream
handbound at nightfall
hazel at the headwater we
cast out drink up and dream
i can only offer a dream harder
for pan's skies and evermore
a kiss in whispered secrets
dream harder in dreamcasting runes — 17feb26
tiwaz i keep putting my arm
into the wolf's maw
expecting to retain all my skin
i continue to be surprised
when i have less in the end
than when i beginA 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 — 16feb26
laguz her river flows
washing over
to carry me home
out across the seaA poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.
Today’s rune is laguz, which has a core meaning of “lake” and, by extension, may be interpreted as “river”, “ocean”, “sea”, “waterfall” or a general body of water. Some alternative interpretations define as “leek”. Following the more commonly accepted meaning, bodies of water were considered liminal spaces, a place between life and death or the threshold space between which spirit and substance resides. Laguz is often associated with feminine energies and journeys via water.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
casting runes — 14feb26
raido who is ridden
when horse & rider flow?
eventide at black sands
waves upon the shoreA 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.
hidden
they write your name on a cup
then the cup is crushed, discarded
in another gesture to a refuse kind of day
hiding behind closed doors with
all feathers turned to vane, whispering
wishes breathlessly to the dim
they will not know these ever for
love lies bleeding in the snow
rapiers quivering, too late for regretspoppet on barbed wire
come to me on wraith of wind
come ancient through the wood
poppet strung on barbed wire
catch rag on bone, you should...
sing song the barley wine
kiss her a'fore the ruddy dawn
poppet strung on barbed wire
carve her stitched mouth drawncasting runes — 13feb26
tiwaz standing as stone
my blood waters earth while
ink-stained fingers smudge
the performative lies smeared
crimson across the pageA 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.
ripsaw
poplar crowing at height
a city's dirty snow
stretched out below me
leaning into tumble
for but to pray to fly—
a ripsaw shredding harsh
songs against the grain
