Time to make a new contest, and this one is open to all that can take the challenge! I want you to write me a hrynhenda form poem...
What is that?
Hrynhenda is a version of Dróttkvætt (main
poetic form of the Norse bards, known from Edda), with eight lines per
stanza, four hard syllables, and four or more soft syllables per line, minimum
three alliterations (first-letter rhyme, or inside a complex word) binds two and
two lines, internal or end-line rhyme, and each line must always end in a
trochee (the two last syllables is HARD-soft, as in
sidewalk, pressure on side, no pressure on walk). A
hrynhenda poem is often a tribute, praising another person, place, or an
object.
An example
"A Ship Comes In" by Jónas Hallgrímsson
(1807-1845)
Can the bard descry a
schooner
scudding landward, sails
expanded?
Hear what's said beside the
cod-stacks?
See the merchants strut like
peacocks?
"Shorebound breezes shove the
weary
ship along! The boys are
thronging!
Packs of people crown the
sidewalks!
Perky shop-clerks stop and
goggle!"
What I want
I want you to write a hrynhenda form poem about the
runes, either one special rune, or all in general, but I want it in
one stanza. The Norse runes are as follows:
Freys's family
Fehu: "fay-who" (F: Domestic cattle, wealth.) Possessions
won or earned, earned income, luck. Abundance, financial strength in the present
or near future. Sign of hope and plenty, success and happiness. Social success.
Energy, foresight, fertility, creation/destruction (becoming). Fehu reversed:
Loss of personal property, esteem, or something that you put in effort to keep.
It indicates some sort of failure. Greed, burnout, atrophy, discord. Cowardice,
stupidity, dullness, poverty, slavery, bondage.
Uruz: "oo-rooze" (U: Auroch, an extinct ox.) Physical
strength and speed, untamed potential. A time of great energy and health.
Freedom, energy, action, courage, strength, tenacity, understanding, wisdom.
Sudden or unexpected changes (usually for the better). Sexual desire, masculine
potency. The shaping of power and pattern, formulation of the self. Uruz
reversed: Weakness, obsession, misdirected force, domination by others.
Sickness, inconsistency, ignorance. Lust, brutality, rashness, callousness,
violence.
Thurisaz: "thoor-ee-saws" (TH: Thorn or a Giant.) Reactive
force, directed force of destruction and defense, conflict. Instinctual will,
vital eroticism, regenerative catalyst. A tendency toward change. Catharsis,
purging, cleansing fire. Male sexuality, fertilization. (Thor, the Thunder god,
was of Giant stock.) Thurisaz reversed: Danger, defenselessness, compulsion,
betrayal, dullness. Evil, malice, hatred, torment, spite, lies. A bad man or
woman.
Ansuz: "awn-sooze" (A: The As, ancestral god, i.e. Odin.) A
revealing message or insight, communication. Signals, inspiration, enthusiasm,
speech, true vision, power of words and naming. Blessings, the taking of advice.
Good health, harmony, truth, wisdom. Ansuz reversed: Misunderstanding, delusion,
manipulation by others, boredom. Vanity and grandiloquence. (Odin is a mighty,
but duplicitous god. He always has his own agenda.)
Raidho: "rye-though" (R: Wagon or chariot.) Travel, both in
physical terms and those of lifestyle direction. A journey, vacation,
relocation, evolution, change of place or setting. Seeing a larger perspective.
Seeing the right move for you to make and deciding upon it. Personal rhythm,
world rhythm, dance of life. Raidho reversed: Crisis, rigidity, stasis,
injustice, irrationality. Disruption, dislocation, demotion, delusion, possibly
a death.
Kenaz: "kane-awze" (K: Beacon or torch.) Vision,
revelation, knowledge, creativity, inspiration, technical ability. Vital fire of
life, harnessed power, fire of transformation and regeneration. Power to create
your own reality, the power of light. Open to new strength, energy, and power
now. Passion, sexual love. Kenaz reversed: Disease, breakup, instability, lack
of creativity. Nakedness, exposure, loss of illusion and false hope.
Gebo: "gay-boe" (G: Gift.) Gifts, both in the sense of
sacrifice and of generosity, indicating balance. All matters in relation to
exchanges, including contracts, personal relationships and partnerships. Gebo in
opposition: Greed, loneliness, dependence, over-sacrifice. Obligation, toll,
privation, bribery.
Wunjo: "woon-yo" (W or V: Joy.) Joy, comfort, pleasure.
Fellowship, harmony, prosperity. Ecstasy, glory, spiritual reward, but also the
possibility of going "over the top". If restrained, the meaning is general
success and recognition of worth. Wunjo reversed: Stultification, sorrow,
strife, alienation. Delirium, intoxication, possession by higher forces,
impractical enthusiasm. Raging frenzy, berzerker.
Heimdall's family
Hagalaz: "haw-gaw-laws" (H: Hail.) Wrath of nature,
destructive, uncontrolled forces, especially the weather, or within the
unconscious. Tempering, testing, trial. Controlled crisis, leading to
completion, inner harmony. Hagalaz in opposition: Natural disaster, catastrophe.
Stagnation, loss of power. Pain, loss, suffering, hardship, sickness,
crisis.
Nauthiz: "now-these" (N: Need.) Delays, restriction.
Resistance leading to strength, innovation, need-fire (self-reliance). Distress,
confusion, conflict, and the power of will to overcome them. Endurance,
survival, determination. A time to exercise patience. Recognition of one's fate.
Major self-initiated change. Face your fears. Nauthiz reversed: Constraint of
freedom, distress, toil, drudgery, laxity. Necessity, extremity, want,
deprivation, starvation, need, poverty, emotional hunger.
Isa: "ee-saw" (I: Ice.) A challenge or frustration.
Psychological blocks to thought or activity, including grievances. Standstill,
or a time to turn inward and wait for what is to come, or to seek clarity. This
rune reinforces runes around it. Isa in opposition: Ego-mania, dullness,
blindness, dissipation. Treachery, illusion, deceit, betrayal, guile, stealth,
ambush, plots.
Jera: "yare-awe" (J or Y: A year, a good harvest.) The
results of earlier efforts are realized. A time of peace and happiness, fruitful
season. It can break through stagnancy. Hopes and expectations of peace and
prosperity. The promise of success earned. Life cycle, cyclical pattern of the
universe. Everything changes, in its own time. Jera in opposition: Sudden
setback, reversals. A major change, repetition, bad timing, poverty,
conflict.
Eihwaz: "eye-wawz" (EI: Yew tree.) Strength, reliability,
dependability, trustworthiness. Enlightenment, endurance. Defense, protection.
The driving force to acquire, providing motivation and a sense of purpose.
Indicates that you have set your sights on a reasonable target and can achieve
your goals. An honest man who can be relied upon. Eihwaz reversed: Confusion,
destruction, dissatisfaction, weakness.
Perthro: "perth-row" (P: Lot cup, vagina.) Uncertain
meaning, a secret matter, a mystery, hidden things and occult abilities.
Initiation, knowledge of one's destiny, knowledge of future matters, determining
the future or your path. Pertaining to things feminine, feminine mysteries
including female fertility, and vagina. Good lot, fellowship and joy.
Evolutionary change. Perthro Reversed or Merkstave: Addiction, stagnation,
loneliness, malaise.
Algiz: "all-yeese" (Z or ending -R: Elk, protection.)
Protection, a shield. The protective urge to shelter oneself or others. Defense,
warding off of evil, shield, guardian. Connection with the gods, awakening,
higher life. It can be used to channel energies appropriately. Follow your
instincts. Keep hold of success or maintain a position won or earned. Algiz
reversed: Hidden danger, consumption by divine forces, loss of divine link.
Taboo, warning, turning away, that which repels.
Sowilo: "soe-wee-low" (S: The sun.) Success, goals
achieved, honor. The life-force, health. A time when power will be available to
you for positive changes in your life, victory, health, and success. Contact
between the higher self and the unconscious. Wholeness, power, elemental force,
sword of flame, cleansing fire. Sowilo in opposition: False goals, bad counsel,
false success, gullibility, loss of goals. Destruction, retribution, justice,
casting down of vanity. Wrath of god.
Tyr's family
Tiwaz: "tea-wawz" (T: Tyr, the sky god.) Honor, justice,
leadership and authority. Analysis, rationality. Knowing where one's true
strengths lie. Willingness to self-sacrifice. Victory and success in any
competition or in legal matters. Tiwaz reversed: One's energy and creative flow
are blocked. Mental paralysis, over-analysis, over-sacrifice, injustice,
imbalance. Strife, war, conflict, failure in competition. Dwindling passion,
difficulties in communication, and possibly separation.
Berkano: "bear-kawn-oh" (B: Berchta, the birch-goddess.)
Birth, general fertility, both mental and physical and personal growth,
liberation. Regenerative power and light of spring, renewal, promise of new
beginnings, new growth. Arousal of desire. A love affair or new birth. The
prospering of an enterprise or venture. Berkano reversed: Family problems and or
domestic troubles. Anxiety about someone close to you. Carelessness, abandon,
loss of control. Blurring of consciousness, deceit, sterility, stagnation.
Ehwaz: "ay-wawz" (E: Horse, two horses.) Transportation.
May represent a horse, car, plane, boat or other vehicle. Movement and change
for the better. Gradual development and steady progress are indicated. Harmony,
teamwork, trust, loyalty. An ideal marriage or partnership. Confirmation beyond
doubt the meanings of the runes around it. Ehwaz reversed: This is not really a
negative rune. A change is perhaps craved. Feeling restless or confined in a
situation. Reckless haste, disharmony, mistrust, betrayal.
Mannaz: "mawn-nawz" (M: Man, mankind.) The Self; the
individual or the human race. Your attitude toward others and their attitudes
towards you. Friends and enemies, social order. Intelligence, forethought,
create, skill, ability. Divine structure, intelligence, awareness. Expect to
receive some sort of aid or cooperation now. Mannaz reversed: Depression,
mortality, blindness, self-delusion. Cunning, slyness, manipulation, craftiness,
calculation. Expect no help now.
Laguz: "law-gooze" (L: Water, or a leak.) Flow, water, sea,
a fertility source, the healing power of renewal. Life energy and organic
growth. Imagination and psychic matters. Dreams, fantasies, mysteries, the
unknown, the hidden, the deep, the underworld. Success in travel or acquisition,
but with the possibility of loss. Laguz reversed: An indication of a period of
confusion in your life. You may be making wrong decisions and poor judgements.
Lack of creativity and feelings of being in a rut. Fear, circular motion,
avoidance, withering. Madness, obsession, despair, perversity, sickness,
suicide.
Ingwaz: "eeng-wawz" (NG: Ing, the earth god.) Male
fertility, gestation, internal growth. Common virtues, common sense, simple
strengths, family love, caring, human warmth, the home. Rest stage, a time of
relief, of no anxiety. A time when all loose strings are tied and you are free
to move in a new direction. Listen to yourself. Ingwaz in opposition: Impotence,
movement without change. Production, toil, labor, work.
Dagaz: "thaw-gauze" (D: Day or dawn.) Breakthrough,
awakening, awareness. Daylight clarity as opposed to nighttime uncertainty. A
time to plan or embark upon an enterprise. The power of change directed by your
own will, transformation. Hope/happiness, the ideal. Security and certainty.
Growth and release. Balance point, the place where opposites meet. Dagaz in
opposition: A completion, ending, limit, coming full circle. Blindness,
hopelessness.
Othala: "oath-awe-law" (O: Ancestral property.) Inherited
property or possessions, a house, a home. What is truly important to one. Group
order, group prosperity. Land of birth, spiritual heritage, experience and
fundamental values. Aid in spiritual and physical journeys. Source of safety,
increase and abundance. Othala reversed: Lack of customary order,
totalitarianism, slavery, poverty, homelessness. Bad karma, prejudice,
clannishness, provincialism. What a man is bound to.
The rules
- No Sticky Caps, no n3t 1ing0, no profanity!
- One entry per person, prewrites are not allowed here.
- If it is not clear in the poem, explain which rune you write about.
- I will not explain the rules again, so make sure you have understood them...
The prizes
1st place: 500 points, and this shiny gold trophy
2nd place:
200 points, and this shiny silver trophy
3rd place:
100 points, and this shiny bronze trophy
Honorable Mentions: 50 points for four entries
That is a total of 1000 points for the best poets to share! So, grab
your golden pen, or let your fingers fly over the keys, because I want to see
some really good poetry here! 
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on March 27, 2006
- Rewards: Gold: 500
- Final notes: Judging this contest was no easy task. Except for the Gold trophy, the two others were hard to choose. I know I promised four Honorable Mentions, but I choose to give only one, as there were only five entries, and one of them were not even attempting to look like a Hrynhenda...
The placing is as such:
1st: "Dagaz" by sigrun odinsdottir
2nd: "Laguz" by fader
3rd: The Untamable" by Rose Dark Thorn
HM: "Dagar(Growth Of The Golden-Eye)" by Purple Butt Jello
Thanks to all that joined the contest, and congratulations to the winners.
Starhiker
Entries [4]
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The rune Dagaz thrills through my soul,
I'm in the throes of the sublime!by sigrun odinsdottir 10 lines, 19 comments, on Mar 11 12:13 PM 2006. In Spiritual, Hope
Gold trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. -
by Rose Dark Thorn 7 lines, 15 comments, on Mar 12 7:21 AM 2006. In Fantasy, Love, Dark, noguest
Bronze trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. -
Washed away by such emotion
To waves of passion they relentby faderman1959 9 lines, 21 comments, on Mar 13 1:31 PM 2006. In Spiritual, Love, Hope
Silver trophy winner
• Commented on by judge.
Add a comment
Comments
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is there an example you can show of this form?
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Sorry, I can not show my own hrynhenda in this contest, as it would be considered fishing for comments...
Edited on Mar 11, 11:06 because ''. -
I had no idea what this form of poetry entailed so I clicked to find out.I cannot enter as this is way above me,but I am glad to learn about it.I hope this does not seem inappropriate but I saw you recently pull into line the characters indulging in nazi/anti semetic chat in the chat room and I am grateful you did that.If these people bore witness to the holocaust they surely would not negate.I just saw via the chatterbox,was tempted to leave my opinion on there but realized it would be ignored,anyhow,am glad as a moderator you dealt with it.Good luck with your contest,love and light,Yvette
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Hi, Yvette! Thanks for taking time to look at my contest, for your comment, and your applause! I appreciate it a lot! Jim
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awesome!
Oh my Gods I love this contest! What a brilliant idea! And I love the graphic of Odin and the ravens. If I could give you a thousand applauses for this, I would. You just made my day. I am going to work very hard on a poem for this contest. BTW, my Norse Gods contest is still open, should you wish to enter..... 
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. Again, a brilliant idea. I love it.
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can i have an example of this sort of poem?
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Hi, Sigrun! I am pleased that you like this contest. I had this image which I now use as main image for this contest, and wondered what I should do. Write a poem, or make a contest. It has been a while since my last contest, so I decided to make this. I look forward to read your entry here. About your contest, I got a little busy in the days after I attempted to write a poem for your contest, and the computer crashed before I could post it, and now I find it hard to recollect my words. I will try to enter your contest, but I can not promise anything.
Thanks for the comment, and the applause, I really appreciate it! Jim
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Hi, Amber! Unfortunately I can not show my own hrynhenda, as it would be considered fishing for comments. I have however written one in this form earlier... Thanks for the comment! Jim
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Congrats on a great contest with great graphics and so much to offer all around. Thank you.
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It wouldn't have to be fishing for comments. It would only be showing your contestants exactly HOW to write one, since being only given the directions is sometimes not enough for some. The only time I consider it to be fishing for comments if one demands comments as a rule or some such thing. Is giving an example to look off of to make sure one is doing the form right really considered fishing for comments?
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Hi, ea! Thank you very much for your great comment, and for the applause, it really warms my heart. Jim
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Hi, Rose Dark Thorn! I have now added a poem in the hrynhenda form, not one of my own. Thanks for the comment, I appreciate it a lot, and I look forward to your entry. Jim
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This is very interesting Starhiker! I love form poetry! I don't know if I'm up to this but I will see if I can come up with something. I've been lacking inspiration lately and it seems these contests are so interesting that they are a great help. This is an excellent idea for a contest!
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I'll see what I can do, at least.
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Is everything bolded supposed to indicate inside rhyming in the example you provided?
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Yes, the bolded parts show alliterations, and the italics show internal rhymes... Hope the exsample make it more understandable. Jim
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Hi, fader! I hope that this can inspire you, and hope you can manage to write a hrynhenda. Thank you for the comment, and the applause, I really appreciate it a lot! Jim
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eeek lol
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Hm...Okay...May I ask what is meant by hard and soft syllables? I don't think I can tell the difference, and I want to make sure I can do this at least decently...
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It looks great and a lot of challenge but is beyond the envelope I have drawn for my writing due to ever increasing demands on my time, but I did not want to visit without wishing you the best with your contest and the future.
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Hi again, Rose Dark Thorn. Well, first of all, a syllable is, as you probably know, a vowel that articulate a sound. A hard syllable has stress, a soft syllable has no stress. The word exsample is a good exsample. Ex is soft, sam is hard, and ple is silent, two syllables in total. A trochee is made of a hard and a soft syllable, like in the word sidewalk, as used in the example... Hope this helps! Jim
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Hrm....Okay...Let's see if I can come up with something.
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Hi, Barry! Thank your for the good luck wishes. Sorry to hear that you can't join the contest... I appreciate your comment, dad. Jim
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I'm going to give it a go. never done this type, but always a first time brother...GETS
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Is poetry so difficult???
lol!!!, I am not sure, I wont promise a n y t h i n g ... lol!!!
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Looking forard to your entry, Gary!
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I hope you manage to write something, Lencio!
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A Dream Come True to know so much about the R
WOW! This is a real challenge. Poetry is not easy I want to thank You for coming up with a contest on Runes and for providing the amazing notes that you did. I took them down by hand. I was so keen to know about the Runes and finally it just came before my eyes like magic Thank You infinite times. This form of poetry, Hrynhenda, is really challenging. I will try my best to enter.
Best wishes always,
And thank you once again
Charishma
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Hi, Charisma! I am glad you found this list of the runes useful, and I look forward to see your first rhynhenda form poem. Thank you very much for the comment, and the applause, I really appreciate it a lot. Blessed be! Jim
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Well, this was not quite how Drottkvaett was defined when I when I went to school... you seem to have overlooked the requirement that the internal rhyme in the odd numbered lines must be skothending (consonants in exact agreement but vowel gradation) and in the even numbered lines must be exact, nor that two important words in the odd-numbered line and one word in the even numbered line must alliterate.
Nor do you mention that Drottkvaet is normally presented as eight-line stanzas. Nor that, in Old Norse convention, all vowels alliterate with each other.
The stanza you quote does, in fact, fulfil these obligations - if one reads descry as a compound de-scry, and rhymes "clerk' with "work" in the US manner. Though -Drottkvaet should have only six syllables per line, and your example seems to have eight! (But I assume that this poem is a translation... and of all the metres I have ever translated - with the obligation to combine accuracy with preservation of form) this is one of the trickiest...
Since I am not at home at the moment, the only example of drottkvaett I can remember is a stanza from a memorial lay by Arnorr Jarlaskaldr commemorating Earl Thorfinn of Orkney (1011-1065), which generations of undergraduates learn since it alludes to the Eddic poem Voluspa, and hence is important evidence for the dating of the latter.
The following rendering shows how the alliteration works and also the interchange of Skothending and exact rhyme
Bright sun shall loom swartly,
Sink earth in tides brinkless,
Welkin cleave, split, severed,
Swell waves o'er all fell-land.
Ere perchance appear a
Prince greater than Thorfinn
In the Isles (God aid the
Earl) the Lord of war-men.
Sorry if this appears pedantic... For I do thoroughly approve your holding a competition for drottkvaet (and am giving you an applaud fot it. I do hope that you get entries that fulfil your (and its) requirements in full.
I hope to enter it myself... but am feeling rather weak after surgery, so may not be able to produce anything meaningful.
Edited on Mar 12, 7:56 because 'final sentence omitted.'. -
Hi, Vera Rich! If you look closely, this is a Hrynhenda contest, not a Dróttkvætt contest. A Hrynhenda is somewhat like a Dróttkvætt, only that is has eight syllables instead of six. The explanation say four hard plus four or more soft syllables, and the example has eight syllables in total. Vowels did not alliterate with eachother in Old Norse, but rather it linked with the following consonant, so that alone was an alliterative of always, but not of anyway. About descry in the example, it alliterates with schooner and scudding, but not sails (or clerk/work). This poem is written by an icelandic poet, who wrote many Hrynhenda, both in icelandic and english. I think a famous modern Hrynhenda poet knew best what was right... Had this been a Dróttkvætt contest, you would be right about most you said, but again, this is a Hrynhenda contest... Thank you for the comment, it was interesting to discuss this with you, and thanks for the applause, I really appreciate it! Jim
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Hi Jim, please check your spelling of "example" in your contest 'Spelling the Runes' Other than that an interesting idea but alas too taxing for me..or maybe not, looking into it right now...David
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I definitely want to give this a good try.I have never written this kind of form,and it is very interesting. Although, I have heard of a few of the runes, I surely will try my best. Great contest, and very challenging. I hope I can. Pj's
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Hi, David! Thanks for pointing out my typo of example. Too bad you feel this contest is too tough for you... See you around, Captain Splat!
Jim
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Hi, PJ! I definately look forward to reading your entry in this contest, just give it your best shot. I will give some hinters if you don't get it 100% correct, but just a few. Thanks for the comment, I really appreciate it! Jim
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Runes!! they are so beautiful!!
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I will not be checking back to comment ..I am glad my niece pointed this out to us.. I enjoyed the form that you present here in your contest..good luck in judging and good luck to the entrants..
Linda -
Got the link to this contest form Sharzad, but this is way too advanced for me... I write stories. Namuh
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wow. this is so crazy but amazing. I don't think I'm up for the challange now but I'm so glad to see an interesting contest around! bravo to you!
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Hi, Linda! I am glad you found this contest interesting, and thanks for the comment, and the applause, I appreciate it a lot! Jim
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Hi, Namuh! I completely understand, this is a difficult form. Thanks for the comment! Jim
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Hi, shadowfax22! Thanks for your comment, I really appreciate it! Jim
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This sounds like quite a challenge - something compeltely different and new - first time I have heard of this form of poetry. Looks like you have a few who have given this a try. Sure you will have some good poems to read. Thanks for giving poets something else to write about.
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Hi, grannyeri! Yes, it was a challence, and only a few took it. It's sad that not more people gives different styles a chance, or just try half-hearedly. Some even don't bother to read the rules... I have found the winner though. Thanks for your comment, it's much appreciated! Jim
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Ha! I did well enough for bronze. That's good enough for me! Thank you.
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Yep, you did good enough for bronze, Rose... Congrats! Jim
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Starhiker thanks for the silver! A total shocker for me! I will definitley have to try this form again! I hope I made a decent attempt as this is a really tough form! Thanks for your comments also.
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Hi, fader! You deserved the Silver trophy, though it was just minor details that gave you the Silver, and not the Bronze. Please keep on writing in this form, and maybe I can be consulting you on your poems?
Thanks for the comment, and the applause! Jim
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I will definitely be trying this form again. I find when you learn a new form it takes quite a few tries to do it justice.
Your comments are always appreciated. -
yahoo!
Thank you thank you thank you so much Jim!
Of all my trophies so far, this is the one I am proudest of, because this was definitely a challenge for me. I am looking forward to writing more in the hrynhenda form, and doing more poems about runes! You have made my day, thank you! And congrats to the others who won, too! Yippee!
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Hi, Sigrun! Congratulations to you for winning the Gold, it was well deserved. You managed, after a few nudges in the right direction, to write a perfect Hrynhenda poem. I think you can manage to write more in this form, but if you want help to look over your poems, just send me a link, and I shall give you an honest critique. Thanks for the comment, and the applause! Jim
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Thank you Jim so much for the Honorable Mention.. I feel you picked the most awesome ones too!! they were great and your Gold pick was incredible I agree 110%!!!!!!!! thanks Pj's I still will be working on that other thingy ya know!! I went off for a little here to Florida but weill take the time soon ok I did not forget Pj's
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