burning on the inside seeking cooling ground to draw this feverdream from head to stone
A rune poem, based on an Elder Futhark rune selected at random.
Today’s rune is kenaz, which has been translated as both “torch” and “ulcer” . It is conceived as symbolic of flame, which is the illuminated creativity as well as the source of purification/healing/cautery. Fire is a a source of transformation and unmaking as well as heat, passion and light. As an ulcer, kenaz can be associated with a fever or inflammation, perhaps a wound which requires healing.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
with each sacrifice another face steps forward to fill the empty space
we will not waver. justice must be served.
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.
On a whim this morning, I decided to reeducate myself on the history of medieval troubadours and their songs/poetry of courtly love, fin’amor, and found myself more drawn to their female counterparts, the trobairitz, who trended away from the complex, flowery language of the troubadour (who wrote more in the trobar clus, closed, hermetic style; or trobar ric, technically complex style) and more into what is termed the trobar leu, the “light” or “easy” style, for which the trobairitz were known.
While I have vague recollections of the troubadour poetry from when I last read any around thirty years ago, I felt it was good time as any to refresh that memory in case I might see it differently after such a passage of time. Instead, I think, I found my more true interest in the trobairitz, as I don’t think the material I was reading at the time did much more than make a cursory mention of their works.
Their lyrical poetry may be more to my speed.
One of the lyrical works of Comtessa Beatriz de Dia, a trobairitz, follows. I thought it would of interest to some folks.