VÖLUSPÁ the Seeress’s Vision: the Ultimate Poetic Rendering

VÖLUSPÁ

The Seeress’s Vision

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From Creation’s Dawn to Twilight’s End

The Ultimate Poetic Rendering

Synthesized for RuneForgeAI

by Volmarr

PART I: THE INVOCATION

I

Silence I call from all sacred kin,

holy offspring, humble and high—

Heimdall’s children in halls of fate;

wilt thou, War-Father, wish me to weave

ancient spells from mankind’s stirring,

tales I treasure from time’s deep well?

II

Giants I remember, born in elder days,

they who fostered me far in the past;

nine worlds I know, nine wooded realms,

the mighty world-tree beneath the mold.

III

In earliest ages when Ymir dwelt,

no sand nor sea nor surging waves,

no earth below, no sky above—

only Ginnungagap, the yawning void,

and grass grew nowhere in that gulf.

IV

Then Bur’s bold sons lifted the lands,

they who shaped the shining Midgard;

sun gleamed south on stone-built halls,

and ground grew green with tender shoots.

V

Sun swung south, the moon her companion,

right hand reaching round heaven’s rim;

sun knew not her settled hall,

moon knew not what might he held,

stars knew not their stations kept.

VI

Then gathered gods on thrones of doom,

high-holy powers, and pondered deep:

named night and her shadowed kin,

marked morning’s blush and midday’s blaze,

afternoon and evening’s close—

to tally the years in steady flow.

✦

VII

Aesir assembled on Idavoll’s field,

raised high shrines and timbered temples,

forged their strength, fashioned their wealth,

crafted tongs and tools of might.

VIII

They played at games in golden gardens,

blissful, blessed, lacking naught;

until three came, mighty giant-maids,

fierce and fearsome from Jötunheim.

IX

Then gathered gods on thrones of doom,

high-holy powers, and pondered deep:

who should shape the dwarven host

from bloody brine and Bláinn’s bones?

X

There Módsognir, mightiest rose

of all the dwarfs, and Durinn next;

many man-like forms they made,

dwarfs in earth, as Durinn willed.

THE DVERGATAL

XI

Nýi, Niði, Norðri, Suðri,

Austri, Vestri, Alþjófr, Dvalinn,

Nár and Náinn, Nípingr, Dáinn,

Bifur, Bǫfur, Bǫmbur, Nóri,

Án and Ánarr, Óinn, Mjǫðvitnir.

XII

Veig and Gandálfr, Vindálfr, Þráinn,

Þrór and Þrǫnd, Þekkr, Litr and Vitr,

Nýr and Nýráðr—now I name them—

Reginn and Ráðsviðr, rightly told.

XIII

Fíli, Kíli, Fundinn, Náli,

Hepti, Víli, Hánarr, Svíurr,

Billingr, Brúni, Bildr and Búri,

Frár, Hornbori, Frægr and Lóni,

Aurvangr, Jari, Eikinskjaldi.

XIV

Time to tally the dwarf-line throng

in Dvalinn’s host for human kin,

down to Lofar; they who journeyed

from stone-halls unto Aurvangr’s plains,

on Jǫruvellir.

XV

There Draupnir, Dolgþrasir,

Hár, Haugspori, Hlévangr, Glóinn,

Dori, Ori, Dúfr, Andvari,

Skirfir, Virfir, Skafiðr, Ái.

XVI

Álfr and Yngvi, Eikinskjaldi,

Fjalarr and Frosti, Finnr and Ginnarr;

this lineage lasts while lives endure,

long-descended line of Lofar’s blood.

PART II: THE QUICKENING OF HUMANKIND

XVII

Until three came from that great host,

mighty and loving, Aesir to shore;

found on the strand, feeble and waiting,

Ask and Embla, empty of fate.

XVIII

No breath they held, no bright wit,

no blood, no bearing, no blooming hue;

breath gave Óðinn, wit gave Hœnir,

blood gave Lóðurr, and vibrant glow.

✦

PART III: THE WORLD-TREE AND THE WEAVERS

XIX

An ash I know, Yggdrasil named,

tall tree, holy, washed in white;

thence come dews that drop in dales;

ever green it stands o’er Urðr’s well.

XX

From there come maidens, wise in lore,

three from the hall beneath the tree;

Urðr is one, Verðandi next—

they carve on wood—Skuld the third;

laws they lay, lives they choose

for children of ages, fates of men.

PART IV: THE FIRST WAR IN THE WORLDS

XXI

She recalls the first war’s fury,

when Gullveig was pierced with spears,

and burned in Hárr’s hallowed hall;

thrice burned, thrice reborn,

often, ever—yet she endures.

XXII

Heiði they hailed her, wherever she went,

seeress far-seeing, who spells could weave;

seiðr she wielded where will she bent,

seiðr that maddened minds with might,

ever the joy of wicked wives.

XXIII

Then gathered gods on thrones of doom,

high-holy powers, and pondered deep:

should Aesir pay the price of peace,

or all the gods share sacred gifts?

XXIV

Óðinn hurled, and shot into hosts—

that was still war’s first in the world;

broken the board-wall of Ásgarðr’s burg,

Vanir trod the war-field, victorious.

XXV

Then gathered gods on thrones of doom,

high-holy powers, and pondered deep:

who had poisoned air with bitter harm,

gave Óðr’s maid to the giant-kin?

XXVI

Þórr alone there thundered in wrath—

he seldom sits when such he hears;

oaths were broken, bonds betrayed,

mighty pacts all torn asunder.

✦

PART V: THE SACRIFICE AND THE SIGHT

XXVII

She knows Heimdallr’s horn lies hidden

under heaven-bright, holy tree;

a mighty torrent pours upon it

from War-Father’s pledge.

Would you know more?

XXVIII

Alone she sat when the ancient came,

Yggr of Aesir, and met her gaze:

“What seek you of me? Why test my sight?

All I know, Óðinn, where your eye hides:

in Mímir’s well, that mighty fount;

mead drinks Mímir each morning fresh

from War-Father’s pledge.”

Would you know more?

XXIX

War-Father gave her rings and gems,

wise words and seeress-sight;

wide she saw, and wider still,

over every world.

XXX

She saw valkyries from far paths riding,

ready to reach the realm of gods:

Skuld bore shield, Skǫgul beside,

Gunnr, Hildr, Gǫndul, Geirskǫgul;

now named are Herjan’s handmaids,

valkyries riding o’er the realms.

PART VI: THE DOOM OF BALDR

XXXI

Baldr I beheld, blood-stained god,

Óðinn’s child, with doom concealed:

grown tall o’er fields,

slender and fair, the mistletoe.

XXXII

From that slim branch, seeming harmless,

came deadly dart; Hǫðr let it fly.

Baldr’s brother was born so soon,

Óðinn’s son, one night old, sought vengeance.

XXXIII

Never washed hands nor combed his hair

till Baldr’s bane on pyre he bore.

But Frigg wept in Fensalir,

Valhǫll’s woe.

Would you know more?

XXXIV

Then Váli twisted war-bonds strong,

harsh ropes from gut entwined.

XXXV

Bound she saw in hot-spring grove

one like Loki, loathsome shape;

there sits Sigyn, though not joyful

o’er her mate.

Would you know more?

✦

PART VII: THE HALLS OF REWARD AND RUIN

XXXVI

East flows a river through venom-dales,

with knives and swords; Slíðr her name.

XXXVII

North stood on Niðavellir

golden hall for Sindri’s kin;

another stood on Ókólnir,

giant’s beer-hall, Brimir named.

XXXVIII

A hall she saw, far from the sun,

on Náströnd, north-facing doors;

venom-drops fall through the vents,

that hall is wound with serpents’ spines.

XXXIX

There she saw wading through heavy streams

men forsworn and murderous wolves,

and those who another’s trust betray;

there Níðhǫggr sucks the slain men’s forms,

wolf rends flesh.

Would you know more?

XL

East sat the crone in Járnviðr,

and fostered there Fenrir’s brood;

from them all shall one arise,

moon’s devourer in troll’s grim guise.

XLI

Feeds on doomed men’s dying breath,

reddens gods’ halls with crimson blood;

sun shall darken in summers hence,

weathers turn wild.

Would you know more?

PART VIII: THE HERALDS OF DOOM

XLII

Sat on a hill, struck his harp,

giantess-herder, glad Eggþér;

crowed above him in gallows-wood

fair-red rooster, Fjalarr named.

XLIII

Crowed o’er Aesir Gullinkambi,

who wakes the warriors at War-Father’s;

another crows beneath the earth,

soot-red rooster in Hel’s deep halls.

XLIV

Garmr howls fierce before Gnípahellir;

fetters shall burst, the wolf run free.

Much wisdom she holds, far I gaze ahead

to Ragnarǫk, gods’ dire doom.

PART IX: THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS

XLV

Brothers shall battle and fall to ruin,

sisters’ sons shall sunder bonds;

harsh is the world, betrayal abounds,

axe-age, sword-age—shields are cloven,

wind-age, wolf-age—ere world crashes;

no one shall another mercy show.

XLVI

Mímir’s sons stir, fate ignites

at ancient Gjallarhorn;

loud blasts Heimdallr, horn aloft;

Óðinn speaks with Mímir’s head.

XLVII

Yggdrasil trembles, the ash stands firm,

ancient tree groans as giant breaks loose;

all quake on roads to Hel

ere Surtr’s kin consumes it whole.

XLVIII

What troubles Aesir? What ails the elves?

Giant-realm roars, Aesir assemble;

dwarfs moan by their stone-doors,

rock-wise guardians.

Would you know more?

XLIX

Garmr howls fierce before Gnípahellir;

fetters shall burst, the wolf run free.

L

Hrymr drives east, shield upheld,

Jǫrmungandr writhes in giant-wrath;

serpent lashes waves, eagle shrieks,

tears pale dead; Naglfar sets sail.

LI

Ship comes east, Múspell’s host

o’er ocean rides, Loki at helm;

monster-kin with wolf advance,

Býleistr’s brother in that fray.

LII

Surtr storms south with flame’s destroyer,

sword shines bright as slaughter-gods’ sun;

cliffs crumble, troll-wives tumble;

warriors tread Hel-path, heaven splits.

LIII

Then Hlín’s second sorrow strikes,

as Óðinn fares to fight the wolf,

Beli’s bane bright against Surtr;

there Frigg’s beloved shall fall.

LIV

Garmr howls fierce before Gnípahellir;

fetters shall burst, the wolf run free.

LV

Then comes Sigfǫðr’s mighty son,

Víðarr, to slay the slaughter-beast;

thrusts his blade with hand held firm

deep in the wolf’s heart—father avenged.

LVI

Then comes Hlǫðyn’s famed heir,

Óðinn’s son to serpent-battle;

strikes in wrath Miðgarðr’s guardian;

all must flee their homesteads;

nine steps takes Fjǫrgyn’s child,

weary from snake, fearless of spite.

LVII

Sun shall blacken, earth sink to sea,

bright stars fall from heaven’s hold;

steam surges, life-flame roars,

high heat plays against heaven itself.

LVIII

Garmr howls fierce before Gnípahellir;

fetters shall burst, the wolf run free.

PART X: THE WORLD REBORN

LIX

She sees rise a second time

earth from ocean, forever green;

waterfalls flow, eagle soars o’er,

hunts fish on mountain heights.

LX

Aesir meet on Idavǫllr,

speak of mighty earth-girdler,

recall Fimbultýr’s ancient runes.

LXI

There wondrous golden game-boards

in grass shall be discovered,

those they held in days of old.

LXII

Fields shall grow unsown and full,

all harm healed, Baldr returns;

Hǫðr and Baldr dwell in Hroptr’s halls of triumph,

well the gods of peace.

Would you know more?

LXIII

Then Hœnir shall cast the sacred lots,

brothers’ sons build wide wind-home.

Would you know more?

LXIV

A hall she sees, brighter than sun,

gold-roofed on Gimlé high;

there faithful folk shall dwell,

and through life-days bliss enjoy.

LXV

Then comes the mighty one to judgment divine,

powerful from above, who rules all things.

✦

THE DESCENT

LXVI

Comes the dark dragon flying low,

glittering serpent from Niðafjǫll;

bears corpses in wings o’er fields he soars—

Níðhǫggr with the dead.

Now she descends.

✦ ✦ ✦

The Ultimate Poetic Völuspá

Synthesized from the Codex Regius, Hauksbók, and Snorra Edda traditions

Rendered by RuneForgeAI for Volmarr

Anno Domini MMXXVI