Norwegian Rune Poem
Translation: Michael J Dangler
(fé) veldr frænda rógi; fœðisk úlfr í skógi.Cattle (wealth) causes kin’s contention; grows up the wolf in the forest.
(úr) es af illu járni, opt hleypr hreinn á hjarni.
Drizzle [flakes of metal] is out of evil iron; often make run reindeer upon hard snow.
(þurs) velder kvenna kvillu; kátr verðr fár af illu.
Giant causes wives sickness; cheer come move out from evil.
(óss) es flestra ferða för, en skálpr er sverða.
Estuary is most journeys’ movement; but sheath is swords’.
(reið) kveða hrossum versta; Reginn sló sverðit bezta.
Riding is said worst for the horse; Regin forged the best sword.
(kaun) es beygja barna; böl gørir mann fölvan.
Boil is an affliction of children; sorrow cause man to be pale.
(hagall) es kaldastr korna; Kristr skóp heim inn forna.
Hail is freezing grain; Krist drew up the world in the old.
(nauð) gørir hneppa kosti; nøktan kelr í frosti.
Poverty causes distress; naked freeze in frost.
(ís) köllum brú breiða; blindan þarf at leiða.
Ice cries out to spread the bridge; blind it is necessary to lead.
(ár) es gumna góði; getk at örr vas Fróði.
Good season is mens’ profit; I suppose liberal was Froði.
(sól) es landa ljómi; lútik helgum dómi.
Sun is land of radiance; pay homage to the sacred relic.
(Týr) es einhendr Ása; opt verðr smiðr at blása.
Tyr is the one-handed God; often happens smith must blow.
(bjarkan)’s laufgrœnstr líma; Loki bar flærðar tíma.
Birch’s verdant bough; Loki bore deceitful luck.
(maðr) es moldar auki; mikil es greip á hauki.
Man is earth’s increase; great is the space between hawk’s talons.
(lögr)’s, es fellr ór fjalli, foss; en gull eru hnossir.
Water’s, is fall out from mountain, waterfall; but gold is a costly thing.
(ýr) es vetrgrœnstr viða; vant’s, es brennr, at svíða.
Yew is green in winter providing wood; expectation, is burning, which burns.
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