It's Still Life

Völuspá: Svalin

He carries a shield,
calls it Svalin.

It stands before sun, more glorious
than cold iron.

Deity of sea and rock,
heaven, hawks and Hel dogs.

Burnt from the place it fell,
weary weight of the sun.

Awake.

Its face is triumphant and
by its one name it’s always been known.

By its one purpose, ancient
soul destroyer.

It speaks to Odin –
beguiled,
bereft.
ᚷᚢᚨᚱᚱᛖᛚᛁᚾᚷ ᛋᚹᛟᚱᛞ

Blood dripping, we believe in
its name alone, and when Odin’s sword

pierced the King of Æsir through,
Svalin held Odin near and close

long after the King of Æsir’s
oppressive dreams had stopped.

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Svalin(n) in Old Norse translates as “cold” or “chill” from the verb svala, meaning “to cool”.
Ymir: a giant and first being created from drops of water, representing chaos
Odin: The god of war and dead, ruler of Valhalla
Mótsognir: created from Ymir’s blood and bone, Lord of Dwarfs
Vala: the Seeress and sorceress of the Völuspá epic, she was resurrected by Odin 

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