107 lines
3.4 KiB
Plaintext
107 lines
3.4 KiB
Plaintext
"Odin's Lament"
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by Carol E. Meacham/Kano Runstafr Odinsdottir
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(C) Copyright 1991 by Carol E. Meacham
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This poem may be used in ritual, but I ask that you give
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appropriate author credit if published.
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I heard the horn's cry
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Clouds on the wind fly
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Wood smoke and blood's tang
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The call of the wolf rang
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Long and loud in the stillness
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Deep and wide in the vastness
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A star's shine in the vast night
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A tiny spark, proclaiming it's right
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To be, as I am, whole
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By Odin's decree playing it's role
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Until the hour of need
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When all bonds are freed
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And the final winter arrives
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Of Odin's host, not one alive
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To proclaim what has been
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What was to be and be again
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"It is time," declared our lord
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"When death will wait on our swords
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When Light will perish in the dark
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When sons and daughters see the mark
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Of that which proves a dying day
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Come to steal the souls away
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From your old Father's hand
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What warriors here, from every land!
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'Twould be a sorry sight,
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Were we not to fight
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Against the Norn's decree.
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Come, my shieldmen, to me!
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Where is Thor, my warrior son
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Who's chariot makes the day to run
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Cursed Loki, trickster, fool!
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Condemned to lie in the poison pool!
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Go away from me, betraying child!
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You who makes the Fates run wild!
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Traitor to Balder, fair as the light!
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Because of you, the world in blight.
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Faithful Tyr, Mighty Thor,
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Beautiful Freya, to live no more
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In Asgard's sacred halls of gold
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All for Loki, mischief bold!
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Oh, that I might hold back time,
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For one more day of fairest clime
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But now Ragnarok will claim my bones
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The world will end with agony's groans
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As your wise old Father at last retires
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To Hela's embrace and Muspellheim's fires
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Oh, my son, my faithful wife,
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How long, how long our graceful lives?
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Oh Asgard, beloved golden land
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How long, how long, your rule to my hand?
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My ravens, my wolves, my Valkyries fierce
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Death's cold barbs, my heart they pierce
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I did not know, I could not see
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The runes did not reveal that need
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But no more words, now march on
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To war, to death, 'til time is gone!
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For all that we have given here
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I will not flinch, I will not fear
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Oh my children, fight well and true
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I go before to welcome you
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Go not easy into death
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Let not Hela steal your last breath
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Whatever is left beyond the veil
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I know that you can never fail!
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For was it not all foretold
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In runes and stones and tales of old?
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And through it all the sun will rise
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You see, your Father is truly wise!
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For was not a new day promised?
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Ah, but that sunrise I will miss
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For after me will come a new lord
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To take up the fight and claim the sword
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So sing of me, when you gather here,
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I will listen, never fear
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For though I am gone, my power fades
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I still can hear your prayers for aid
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And I will answer, as I may,
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And help to chase your fears away."
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So the Lord did go out to Ragnarok
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Fought til Hela's cold arms did lock
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About the AllFather's ancient form
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Oh, what wailing, what storms!
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Grievous day, to come at last
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After so long the fateful blast
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Brave Thor, taken by the Serpent's coils
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It's poison in his veins did roil
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Soon he, too, did follow the path
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Vanquished by the Serpent's wrath.
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There the Hammer did lay,
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Quiet and still, it's master away
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Gone forever from Thor's hand
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Quiet and still, the newborn land
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Without it's gods to guard
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A new race to be it's ward
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And tell the tales as were told
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Of ancient gods in a land of gold.
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