Nordic Wiccan: Poems

Ansuz A
Vallaha is exceedingly high and precious to men.
With its sturdy ash trunk it offers a stubborn resistance,
though attacked by many a man.

Air

Air we cannot see,

Swirls of laughter and music.

Air is the element that we breathe into our busy lungs.

Algiz z

Even a plant can cause harm
if used without caution;
danger lurks even in the safest place.

Berkanan b

Your green leaves bloom early
giving us knowledge
that Spring has come again.

Cen c

The inner light which is never extinguished
brightens the dark weary world.
This body is a great hall;
the mind sits in the body's high seat.
The call to faith
a torch carrying procession.

Cweorth

We have been through the fire
We have been the funeral pyre
We have learn to purify, to cast aside
that which keeps us from living fully
And now we blaze as well as flame.

Daeg d

We shine in the light of the deities.
Day is followed by night;
life by death,
we know that after night comes a new day.
So death is followed by new life
in whatever way that arises.

Dragon

Dragons flying in the sky,

swooping down and soaring high.

Mighty wings, so awe inspiring, always moving, never tiring.

Ehwaz e

The horse is a joy to princes in the presence of warriors.

A steed in the pride of its hoofs,

when rich men on horseback bandy words about it;

and it is ever a source of comfort to the restless.

Ear q

Death is the end of all.
Even the most powerful
and wealthy people
are seized in the end.
Yet don't despair,
for life goes on
and so do all which die
come back to some form of life.

Eiwaz I

The yew is a tree with rough bark,

greenest of trees in winter,

hard in the earth, supported by its roots,

a guardian of flame and a joy upon an estate.

Fehu f

Wealth should flow,
constantly circulating
to promote the common good.
Sellers, buyers, investors, and the taxing authorities
portion out between them
the incomes of the folk.
Money sitting idle
causes only harm.

Gar G

If you`re not afraid of the fire, my spear will bar your way for you!
My hand still holds
the haft of power;
the sword you wield
was shivered ere now by this shaft:
once more let it
splinter upon my eternal spear!

Haglaz h

Even a good life has its days.
As a hard rain good for the crops
turns to a hail storm that flattens them.
Even then the bad times don't last;
even the thickest hail
melts away.

Isaz i

Ice is very cold and immeasurably slippery;
it glistens as clear as glass and most like to gems;
it is a floor wrought by the frost, fair to look upon.

Inguz N

Freyr moves across the lands;
visiting his farmer friends
giving gifts of great bounty.

Iar j

The world serpent has us all
in its grip;
lord of eternity
the cycle of birth and death.

Ingwaz q

The sky wolves have retreated;
Sunna warms the land below.
Freyr and Freya have
bestowed upon us a great bounty
for all the folk.

Jera j

Summer is a joy to men,
suffer the earth to bring forth shining fruits
for rich and poor alike.

Kenaz k

The torch is known to every living man
by its pale, bright flame; it always burns
where warriors sit within.

Kalc K

Drink from the chalice of such wondrous design,

as it is lovingly held. Filled with mead,

an offering to love’s grace.

Laguz l

Water we cannot understand,

splashes of coolness and purity.

Water is the element that we drink,

gulping down freely through our throats.

Mannaz m

Be happy in life.
Bring happiness to your friends
and relations.
Yet be aware that death is always waiting.

Moon d

Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in his silver shoon;
This way, and that, he peers, and sees
A harvest mouse goes scampering by,
And fish in the water gleam.

Naudiz n

Trouble is oppressive to the heart;
yet often it proves a source of help and salvation
to the children of men, to everyone who heeds it.

Othala o

An ancestor is very dear to every man,
if he can enjoy there in his house
whatever is right and proper in constant prosperity.

Peord p

Peorth is a source of recreation and amusement to the great,
where warriors sit cheerfully together in the banqueting-hall.

Raido r

When one sits in one's home
everything looks so easy;
talk is easier than action.
To walk in another's shoes
and do better,
that is a most difficult task.

Sowilo s

Sunna is the goddess of hope.
She points out the way
and gives us the energy for life's work.

Stan

From the outside the stone is a riddle,

even though a cow steps on it. But when two stones are rubbed,

sparks fly out. Perhaps there is a moon shining from somewhere

or perhaps it is just cool and quiet.

Teiwaz t

Tyr is the way.
He is the sky father
who guides us
thru life winding paths,
never abandons us
to darkness.

Thurisaz T

Computers crash
and planes fall out the skies.
That is the nature of things
and not always evil in intent.
Even good people sometimes cause
good people harm.

Uruz u

The aurochs is proud and has great horns;
it is a very savage beast that fights with its horns;
a great ranger of the moors, it is a creature of strength.

One must grab life's challenges by the horn's.

Wunjo w

It is bliss to reach the state of happiness:
no suffering, no sorrows, great joy.
To have the necessities of life
and to be able to help others.
Even in a reversal of fortune
one who is truly free
can still find joy
in this world and in other realms.

Yr y

I fly straight as an arrow
to my destination.

May we have the power
to withstand the attacks
of our enemies.