Tag: poetry

  • 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.

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.

  • 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
  • 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.

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.

  • bone dreaming

    bone dreaming
    we rattle under ash
    crisp as leaves
    kissed of rime

    bone dreaming
    we slip that streaming
    to rest at sieidi
    longing of the everlast