The Blood of Odin

Upon his shoulders perch two ravens

Hugin and Munin.

They circle the earth by day seeing all

At night they report to him the world's tidings.

He wears a golden helmet and a golden ring

At his side sit two wolves.

His weapons a magic sword

And a spear called Gungnir

They are carved with runes.

His eight legged horse

Sleipnir carries him over land, sea and air,

The bringer of the valiant dead, the einherjar,

From the battlefield across

The rainbow bridge to Valhalla.

For a single drink of the enchanted water

He paid with one eye

He was granted supreme wisdom.

He is the God of poetry, sorcery, and death.

Wounded, pierced by a spear

He hung upside down for nine days.

Fasting and agony he made

Of himself a sacrifice to himself.

Given no bread nor mead he looked down

And with a loud cry fell screaming

From the world tree.

In a flash of insight the secret magic

Of the runes was revealed to him.

He took up the runes and mastered them

Eighteen powerful charms for protection,

Success in battle, lovemaking, healing

And the power to bring back the dead.

His sacred blood mixed with black wind

And rain wept down

From the world tree deep into the earth.

He commanded the earth to crack open

And to spew forth the strongest of the strong!

On this day he did bestow

Unto the world the sons of Odin!