The Old Norse Rune Poem

Rune poems were created as mnemonic aids for remembering the rune symbols, their names, meanings and properties. Here is a very old Runic poem:

• Fe 

Wealth is a source of discord among kinsmen;
the wolf lives in the forest.

• Ur 

Dross comes from bad iron;
the reindeer often races over the frozen snow.

• Thurs 

Giant causes anguish to women;
misfortune makes few men cheerful.

• As 

Estuary is the way of most journeys;
but a scabbard is of swords.

• Reidh 

Riding is said to be the worst thing for horses;
Reginn forged the finest sword.

• Kaun 

Ulcer is fatal to children;
death makes a corpse pale.

• Hagall  

Hail is the coldest of grain;
Christ created the world of old.

• Naudhr 

Constraint gives scant choice;
a naked man is chilled by the frost.

• Isa 

Ice we call the broad bridge;
the blind man must be led.

• Ar 

Plenty is a boon to men;
I say that Frodi was generous.

• Sol 

Sun is the light of the world;
I bow to the divine decree.

• Tyr 

Tyr is a one-handed god;
often has the smith to blow.

• Bjarkan 

Birch has the greenest leaves of any shrub;
Loki was fortunate in his deceit.

• Madhr  

Man is an augmentation of the dust;
great is the claw of the hawk.

• Logr

A waterfall is a River which falls from a mountain-side;
but ornaments are of gold.

• Yr

Yew is the greenest of trees in winter;
it is wont to crackle when it burns.

From: Runic and Heroic Poems by Bruce Dickins