Tag: poetry

casting runes — 22oct25
othala
```
under the cloak
the patterns burn
all the more clear

slip to the well
and dive, emerge
in the lands
under the sea
```
A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.
Today’s rune is othala, which has a core meaning of “heritage”, “inheritance” and “legacy”. These are all associated with home, kin, ancestors, stability and (in some interpretations) past lives or spiritual legacy.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
22 Oct 25

on the wind

"throw your head away
and let branches replace
the empty left behind",
said the acorn man

so
we gathered round
and grew old,
apple blossoms
on the wind

21 Oct 25

to the turning within

as the nights slip
cauldron to stone
from wave to cold
we turn to the 
turning within

spirits on the wander
gather 'round the flames
dancing, spinning, yearning
as they give to the
turning within

let all our debt burn away
as we turn to the
turning within

21 Oct 25

slight rebellion

tossing the tethers, ropes
tying to dock and pier
letting current carry away

adrift and slipping away
spinning in eddies away
never wanting to arrive

never to, never arrive

20 Oct 25

our lady of crows

our lady of crows
waits above the ford
will you bed her at river
should she bid you?
be she maiden or crone?
she waits on her lover,
our lady of crows

have you come to
collect waters issued of
our lady of crows?
to reap on the harvest,
as gifted bounty of
our lady of crows?
or have you come to
enjoin at frenzy and fury
of our lady of crows?

20 Oct 25

her narrows standing

i wait on dreams
of her fountainhead,
at her narrows standing

flow her water, oak & ash
hazel & blackthorn sharp,
at her narrows standing

wait upon gold & rust
for rime & without reason,
at her narrows standing

long the night i belong
set to slumber underground,
at her narrows standing

19 Oct 25

coil lies barren

shuffling off & cutting ties
gone to drift on pale winds
clutching at fragments only
to toss useless scraps away

4 u c —
i realize this coil lies barren &
there is only death & dream
this debt is beyond counting
and all that is left is
to serve out my time

i slip
an ophelia amongst the reeds
waiting for a mercy kiss
to set me free

18 Oct 25

hibiscus

tart hibiscus on my tongue
returns memories of stolen kisses
over doumbek & warmed rania
while thick windows
full of commuting crowds
rush to beat the thicker snowflakes
falling on rescue red buses
roaring past to carry them home

17 Oct 25

casting runes — 17oct25
thurisaz
```
going back to ground
to wrap myself in earth
before the long cold falls

stone away blind
ravens shout greetings above
in the ancient oak tree

a single snowflake,
leaden skies
```
A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.
Today’s rune is thurisaz, which has several core translations: “thorn” or “giant”. The rune is often associated with pain or discomfort (often for an important transitional or transformative reason) or raw power that may be destructive. It is also considered protective, regenerative, and is frequently associated with women’s menstrual health.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
17 Oct 25

fantasy tale

though she was no virgin
and he no unicorn,
he rested his head in her lap
and visioned their journey
riding across still waters in
the shimmer of dream

16 Oct 25