Home
Poems: My Own
Poems: By others
Poems: Classical
Poems: Multilingual
Music & Songs
Stories & Myths
Links to Poetry
About & FAQ
Terms of Use
Contact, Site Notice
Submissions

The Latest
 

~ By Courtesy of Others ~

 

Yule Memories

Yuletide roaring swift around us
Swifter than a streaming river
Swifter than the wind in torment
Swifter than the hounds of Alfheim

Let us drink with friends this long day
Drink and toast the past behind us
Drink to those we’ve lost this twelvemonth
Drink to days of hope a-coming

At the table is my woman
Long of hair and fair of feature
Long of joyful laughter ringing
Long her memories and wisdom

Let us eat and feast on viands
From the corners of the steading
From the branches of the Worldtree
From the places few have ridden

Sit beside good friends and talk then
Of the times since last Yule’s meeting
Of the places we have travelled
Of the skraelings we have seen there

Let us tell the ancient sagas
Singing songs of love and battle
Singing songs of blood and conflict
Singing songs of spears and conquest

Pass the horn of red wine dripping
Here’s to all who would fight for me!
Here’s to all who would run from me!
Here’s to all who would be with me!

Drink my kin and praise the fire
Keeping us from cold and darkness
Keeping out the ice-born demons
Keeping in the joys of friendship

Kiss the greening boughs above us
Sweet now are the lips of Frigga
Sweeter than the beehive honey
Sweeter than the fallen apples

Yuletide roaring swift around us
Swifter than a streaming river
Swifter than the wind in torment
Swifter than the hounds of Alfheim

© Alan Hodgson

 

Back to : [ by Theme ]   [ by Author ]   [ by Title ]