( Looks nervously at the Jarl and hopes that the Jarl will approve - and also that the Jarl will not mind that he does not know how to put a caesura in each line ! )


Part One

Fragile, then, was Baldur brightest being
Destined death Odin forseeing,
The world wonders Asgarth shakes
Oceans boil with bile wolves wake.

Finally Frigga Odin’s mate
Strongly speaks fighting Fate
" It is ill with Aesir ill with elves
Should souls submit to death ourselves."

Firstly Frigga Odin’s mate
Mightiest of mothers fighting Fate
Wearisomely wanders midgarth wide
Bravely she battles Fates fearsome tide.

Fiercely Frigga Odin’s mate
Darkly demands fighting Fate
All conscious creatures through chant and charm
Swear brightest Baldur shall have no harm

Fittingly Frigga Odin’s mate
Returns and refrains from fighting Fate
All living life she has heard
Will bleed not Baldur they willed their word.

Part two

Evil, then , was Loki mischief’s maker
Evil in envy serpent shaker
Loves not bright Baldur desires he die
Seeking a strategy lets loose his lies.

Longingly Loki mischief to make
Wears woman’s shape for safety’s sake
Finds first Frigga softness shows
Deeply desires to learn what Odin’s mate knows.

Lengthily Loki mischief to make
Finds this from Frigga action to take
" truthfully tell if you do dare
If each and all such oath should swear ?"

Laughingly Loki mischief to make
Finds this from Frigga malice to wake
" Such swore all and all swore so
Excepting only my mistletoe."

Lustily Loki mischief to make
Eyes bright Baldur his life to take
Loves not bright Baldur desires he die
Settles a strategy lets loose his lies.





Part Three

Happy, then , the Aesir, Greatest Gods
And dare to defy Fate’s final odds
They test bright Baldur shaping sharp spears
Flinging with fury forget their fears

Heavily Hoth Baldur’s blind brother
Sits in silence apart from all others
Silent and saddened sunken in thought
Cannot contest in the savage sport.

Lengthily Loki mischief to make
Hails then Blind Hoth bright Baldur to break
"All alone outside the others ?
Come hurl a haft at your brightest Brother."

Laughingly Loki mischief to make
Hands then Blind Hoth a spear to shake
" Let lusty Loki be extra eyes !"
Hoth hurls the haft bright Baldur dies.

The hostile haft Bright Baldur ripped
Laughingly Loki mistletoe tipped
Thus did he deal out destined doom
Bright Baldur to dwell in Niflheim gloom.

Part Four

Grieving, then , the Aesir Greatest Gods
Rued with regret Fate’s final odds
Heavily Hermoth speaks from his shell
" I will ride rapidly bargain with Hel."

Heroic Hermoth so tales tell
Rapidly rides to haggle with Hel
" I will barter with Baldur " drones Hel’s voice deep
"If all living life for Baldur will weep."

Happy , then , the Aesir Greatest Gods
Dare to defy Fate’s final odds.
Messengers migrate midgarth wide
All save one giantess for Baldur cried.

Grieving then the Aesir Greatest Gods
Unable to upset Fate’s final odds
Giantess Thokk repeating refusing
Greatest of Gods Bright Baldur losing.

Evil , then , was Loki mischief to make
Wore giantess’ shape for safety’s sake
He hated bright Baldur would not weep
"What Hel has hold of let Hel keep."







Part Five

Fearful, then, was Loki mischief’s maker
Evil in envy serpent shaker
Fled from their fury worldscape wide
Nowhere and nothing to help him hide.

Grieving, then, was Loki mischief’s maker
Saw his sons slaughtered serpent shaker
Loki’s loved sons the Aesir take
From out of their entrails fast fetters they make

Captured, then, was Loki mischief’s maker
Held fast by Thor the tempest shaker
Entrail fast fetters bitingly binding
Around lusty Loki wickedly winding

In agony, Loki mischief’s maker
Was worthily punished serpent shaker
A venomfull viper positioned in place
Drips drops of poison full into his face.

Heartbroken Hoth Baldur the Bright
Dwell deep in Niflheim sheltered from sight
Languishing Loki reclines on his rock
So it shall stay until Ragnarok.