Icelandic Rune Poem courtesy of Ragweed Forge
The Icelandic Rune Poem (in Modern English)
Wealth source of discord among kinsmen and fire of the sea and path of the serpent.
Shower lamentation of the clouds and ruin of the hay-harvest and abomination of the shepherd.
Giant torture of women and cliff-dweller and husband of a giantess.
God aged Gautr and prince of Ásgarðr and lord of Valhalla.
Riding joy of the horsemen and speedy journey and toil of the steed
Ulcer disease fatal to children and painful spot and abode of mortification.
Hail cold grain and shower of sleet and sickness of serpents.
Constraint grief of the bond-maid and state of oppression and toilsome work.
Ice bark of rivers and roof of the wave and destruction of the doomed.
Plenty boon to men and good summer and thriving crops.
Sun shield of the clouds and shining ray and destroyer of ice.
Týr god with one hand and leavings of the wolf and prince of temples.
Birch leafy twig and little tree and fresh young shrub.
Man delight of man and augmentation of the earth and adorner of ships.
Water eddying stream and broad geysir and land of the fish.
Yew bent bow and brittle iron and giant of the arrow.
The Norwegian Rune Poem (In Modern English)
Wealth is a source of discord among kinsmen; the wolf lives in the forest.
Dross comes from bad iron; the reindeer often races over the frozen snow.
Giant causes anguish to women; misfortune makes few men cheerful.
Estuary is the way of most journeys; but a scabbard is of swords.
Riding is said to be the worst thing for horses; Reginn forged the finest sword.
Ulcer is fatal to children; death makes a corpse pale.
Hail is the coldest of grain; Christ created the world of old.
Constraint gives scant choice; a naked man is chilled by the frost.
Ice we call the broad bridge; the blind man must be led.
Plenty is a boon to men; I say that Frothi was generous.
Sun is the light of the world; I bow to the divine decree.
Tyr is a one-handed god; often has the smith to blow.
Birch has the greenest leaves of any shrub; Loki was fortunate in his deceit.
Man is an augmentation of the dust; great is the claw of the hawk.
A waterfall is a River which falls from a mountain-side; but ornaments are of gold.
Yew is the greenest of trees in winter; it is wont to crackle when it burns