It's Still Life

Ragnarök Begins: The Twilight of Gods

The seeress’s spell filled Hall of Hunnish
where billowing smoke cut thick the air, and
all did stare, Vala pointing to where he stood.

“Loathed of all, who is this man,” she said,
“that led me on this course. Snow bedecked
and rain beaten. Long have I been dead,
only to then be sheltered here again.”

And the man, Vegtam, said to her,
“From the earth I call on thee
to name Baldr’s slayer for they
are the bringers of every end.”

And he refused to speak more of it,
venom gleaned his every words,

“Be not silent, Vala, I will know by question
by whom Odin’s son was slain.”

And the pyre grew in height and width,
flames bright as drawn’s light thread,
and maidens three all wept at will
as heaven cast down its veil.

This world shall awash with blood,
said this stranger, known as Odin.
Lord of man. Father of beloved Baldr.

And he rode for home as Ragnarök
all-destroying possessed the land,
and Vala returned to pinions of frozen
earth from whence she’d come.

---

Baldr:  son of the god Odin and the goddess Frigg. His death is the harbinger of Ragnarök
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 and Vegtam: 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 

Some artwork is created using Midjourney AI, and is identified as such in the ALT text or captioned. Imagery and poems ©Misky 2023.