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Hymn to Ostara
Brandish your banner of blue in the East,
girded in armor of gold.
With sharp sword unsheathed and shining-maned horse,
draw back the doors of the sky,
drive back the darkness and chill!
Weave the dawn’s web of welcoming light,
the cloth of crimson and gold.
Like a woman at her work who wynnfully sings,
draw back the doors of the sky,
drive back the darkness and chill!
Take up the torch and travel the sky-path,
blazing, burnished with gold.
High-farer, Hero, herald of Sunna,
draw back the doors of the sky,
drive back the darkness and chill!
Aesir and alfar adorn you with jewels,
with rings of reddest gold.
Heaven-Father’s heart is happy as you dance,
draw back the doors of the sky,
drive back the darkness and chill!
Darkness withdraws where you drive your chariot,
riding the road of gold.
Call us to combat, call us to victory;
draw back the doors of the sky,
drive back the darkness and chill!
Deep is the dark sea, deep—but we have crossed it;
the sky brings silver and gold.
Hail, ye high Day! Hail to Ostara!
Draw back the doors of the sky,
drive back the darkness and chill!
© Ben Waggoner
Author’s Note:
This is (very loosely) based on the first verses of hymn 1.92 in the Rig-Veda. I
couldn’t help but wonder: if the hymn and the concepts behind it go back to
Proto-Indo-European times, what might it look like if some Germanic tribes had
preserved their own version?
Ben Waggoner has translated numerous Old Norse Sagas. His books on Lulu.