I am at heart a soldier still

I hear the Call across the years

It stirs my soul and thoughts well up

Of duty done, and friendships made

Stave 209: Ye Piparskeggrsmal

Hail all;

As a veteran, albeit peacetime Guard and Reserve duty, I look upon those days with fondness and realism.

The Hammer Project, which is supported by the Asatru Folk Assembly, is an outreach project to support service members and their families.

One aspect, which is of growing importance. . .getting recognition that a symbol for Asatruars who have died as active warriors, or as veterans back home in the community they defended, deserve to have the choice of a symbol of Faith on their gravestone just as much as any other man or woman of Faith who has carried the Burden of Warding he Commonweal.

Please go to the site, http://www.hammerproject.org/ and read it over.

Also, there is a link to follow on the site for the purpose of signing an online petition in suport of the Hammer Project’s goal of gaining the aforementioned recognition.

Thanks in advance - Pip

Here’s one I wrote, which was inspired by a fairly modern (early 20th century - WW-I-era) account of a survival of an English “Well-Dressing” ritual performed in the spring.

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Her Wellspring - A Nerthus Poem

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The waters dark, beneath the Earth

Wellspring of Life, True Mother’s Milk

Carrying Mægn from Wyrding Well

Flows in our hearts, flows in our souls

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Nerthus, Mother, good, fertile Earth

Birthing green life, which sustains us

Fodder for beasts, fruit for the plate

Give thanks we do, for stream of Life

- Burden -

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In Elder Days, we knew You well

And lived our Bond, in Your goodwill

We also knew, give Gift for Gain

Was our Duty, for Common Weal

- Burden -

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When the Maytree, springs bright and green

Comes the day to, show honest thanks

Laughter and song, feasting and drink

Words for Mother, Adornments, too

- Burden -

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The day does start, with rising Dawn

Mani has slid, into his bed

Sunna barely, peeks o’er the trees

The Folk gather, Well Dressing Rite

- Burden -

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Echoes of Blót, are in our ways

Dark Fee for Her, Who Does Send Life

Feast swine is slain, with Blessing words

Boar’s blood reddens, wells in Her name

- Burden -

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Day is merry, and day is long

All are happy, Luck’s been assured

She has Her fee, and Wells are dressed

Folkways honored, day comes to rest

- Burden -

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And Wyrdly comes the Water’s Touch

That mighty flow which livens all

For without Spring, inside our hearts

Our Souls will die, and become dust

- Burden -

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Nerthus, Mother, good, fertile Earth

Birthing green life, which sustains us

Fodder for beasts, fruit for the plate

Give thanks we do, for stream of Life

- Burden -

-Burden -

(Last line softly)

I wrote this the day after a Jesuit priest taught me and my fellows in a high school-level Roman Catholic (my cradle religion) “Sunday school” about reincarnation, past life regression, human energy fields and how to feel/control them.

Talk about “Liberation Theology!”

Under his tutelage I remembered 5 deaths in battle, plus a young lady of my acquaintance who was in that class with me; I felt that we had been together in a previous life or two. To this day I will swear that a physical spark of energy exchanged between us that night.  We were a natural fit, but life took us in different directions and we parted as friends.

She died several years ago, but I love her still, deeply.

I am lucky, for I had a second shot at true love. My wife and I have been together for the better part of 31 years (including the time we dated).  I would be deadened without her.

I like to joke that I gave up the Church for Lent in 1975; here’s one of the results.

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Fragment from a Battlefield - 17 March, 1975

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The waiting is the hardest part

The not knowing; the hanging time

The thoughts of clash and thoughts of crash

The thoughts of home and family

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I look across the open field

At long dark lines of massing foe

The air is thick with stink of fear

But courage is, to duty do

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The bugles blare , call the advance

The foe gives voice; an awful sound

My comrades march, then charge and fight

No brave man I, but fear is held

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I keep my place by shieldman’s side

The steely line comes straight at me

My life becomes this final act

To win and live, or lose and die

—————————————-

I was barely 18 years of age when I wrote this and new little, if anything, of life.

I do not declare myself as a close follower of Odin; I keep away from Him a bit, actually.

However, once in a while He demands - inspires a poem or song…audio is an older version of the lyrics (same words slightly different order), as usual, 1st stave is repeated as the Burden of the song.

—————————-

All Worthy

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Wassail Woden, All Father wise

Drinker from Mimir’s Well

Battle Slain and Wild Hunt Lord

Inspirer of the Skald

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O’er the Nine Worlds, Wide-faring One

Seeking for Lore, Gaining in Wit

Show us the way, to be as You

Learning ever, building Orlay

-Burden-

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Hung from the Tree, windy nights nine

Hallowed to Self, wounded by Spear

Cared by none, Dark Vision came

Fell to the Runes, rose up again

-Burden-

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Kvasir the Wise, did God Tribes make

And the Dwarves two did murder him

Blood into Mead, prize to be gained

Odin won out, despite ordeal

-Burden-

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Worthy the Words, sent to the Skalds

Poem and Song, Lore for the Folk

Weapons you give, to Warriors

Looking for Men, Warband to be

-Burden-

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Worthy War Dead, half to Valhall

Fight in the day, feast in the night

Odin looks on, Gungnir in hand

Einheriar for Ragnarok

-Burden-

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Black Raven twins of Thought and Mind

They perch above His High Seat old

Bringing the news of Worlds and Wights

Har sits and thinks, Deemings and Dooms

-Burden-

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Grey are the wolves, sit at Grim’s knee

Guarding the way to Æsir chief

Wild Spirit, Strength of the Clan

Inside the Hall, upon the Land

-Burden-

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Oer the Nine Worlds, Wide-faring One

Seeking for Lore, Gaining in Wit

Show us the way, to be as You

Learning ever, building Orlay

-Burden-

-Burden-

I wrote this song a few years ago after reading an account by Valgard Murray of the life of Scotty McMurray, a longtime member of the Arizona Kindred.  Scotty was a Heimdall’s man, and Valgard’s words led me to the inspiration for this song as a centerpiece to an Offering Rite I’d been trying to compose to Heimdall for a Veterans’ Day gathering.

Hail Those Who Watch and Ward!

Pip

———————————————————

-Wearer of the Wolfskin-

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Heimdall you stand in wolfskin cloak

Auroch’s horn close at hand

Guarding the way on Bifrost bright

Everward, Wakeful One

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Praises we sing, the Warder Bold!

Heimdall, Garth Guard, Watch over us!

Praises we sing, the Warder Bold!

Your Deeds shine bright, Honor’s Beacon!

-Burden-

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Heimdall, Horn Ás, Never Sleeping

Looks o’er the Worlds, observing all

Grim of visage, solid of stance

Always ready to sound the Call

-Burden-

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Within your tales, are lessons true

Of watchfulness, against all ill

To be prepared, for Ragnarok

We’ll look to Worth, and battle gear

-Burden-

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Midgard is green, Life upon Life

Quickened by Gods, Ordered by Same

Folk have a place within the Clan

Farmer, Craftsman, Hall Thane and Lord

-Burden-

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Community ties, of Birth and Word

Bind tight and strong, among the Folk

Rig did walk here, long, long ago

Taught us to know, work we must do

-Burden-

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Mind and Body, Art, Craft and Wit

Skill we should have, as Lord or Men

Helping the Folk, ready to be

In Peace or War, live large and strong

-Burden-

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Ever sharp ears, hear Battle Strife

Farseeing eyes, watch Mannish Deeds

Bell flared nostrils, smell tang of Blood

Inflowing breath, brings taste of Pain

-Burden-

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Praises we sing, the Warder Bold!

Heimdall, Garth Guard, Watch over us!

Praises we sing, the Warder Bold!

Your Deeds shine bright, Honor’s Beacon!

-Burden-

-Burden-

Here’s an early recording of me singing “A Visit.”  The sound is a bit like I’m in a barrel. ,-)

This is the song I wrote to offer at Uller Blot in September, 2000 and offered at Uller Blot during the first and only Asatru In Action Moot in March of 2001.  AnA became Our Meadhall later that year and the Moots have continued.

In my poetry, I use the word Burden instead of chorus as this stave has the “burden” of carrying the theme of the work.  The first stave is repeated as the Burden stave.

enjoy - Pip

A Visit - UllR Bede - 22 Shedding 2250 RE

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Sing we proudly, the Bow Lord!

Uller guide hand and eye.

Sing we proudly, the Bow Lord!

His voice in arrow’s flight.

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Winter is Harsh, weeds out the weak

Lest they be part, of well knit clan

Hearth fires warm, protect them well

Old ones and young, all of them kin

- Burden -

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Homestead is bound, snow piled high

Hunters are home, larders are bare

Bellies are slack, some taken ill

Elders have met, Offerings made

- Burden -

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Mead woven tale, deeds of the hunt

Praise for the prey, and the Old One

Words go awing, speed through the air

Fall on sharp ears, rightful plea heard

- Burden -

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Snow Sender strides, on boneshoes wide

Hoarfrost glistens, shrouds the woodland

Branch antlered stag, puffs misty breath

Beast Slayer sends, life stealing thorn

- Burden -

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Fur Wearer stands, within the garth

Calls to the folk, come take this prize

Man and woman, lad, lass and babe

Share in the gift, of Forest God

- Burden -

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Clan Warder speaks, Blessing to give

Tells of the shoes, deep snow to tread

To help themselves, through mortal deeds

Praises to Him, Teacher of Craft

- Burden -

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Across the rime, Leather Clad Ase

Strides to the trees, from sight is lost

Clan folk again, turn to the feast

Mead horns are raised once more in praise

- Burden -

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Winter is Harsh, weeds out the weak

Lest they be part, of well knit clan

Hearth fires warm, protect them well

Old ones and young, all of them kin

- Burden -

- Burden -

I appended “A Starting Point,” the poem I use to open my collections of non-ritual poetry (Skaldstone Unfinished #3 almost done).

Be well and hail Our Northern Holy Ones!

Pip