The eight silly dragon

The Firedrake singed his friend’s coloured crest,

Seven firemen placed him under arrest,

Much water was needed,

Before they succeeded,

He said in court that he did it in jest.

The seventh silly dragon

The Basilisk sung out a great spell,

Because he didn’t know how to smell,

His magic was faulty,

Because he was naughty,

Now there’s no one he dare ever tell.

The sixth silly dragon

There was a Firedrake from the south,

That used to breathe fire from its mouth,

It went to a buffet,

Not a take away,

And stole all the food in its mouth.

The fifth silly dragon

The Earth dragon without wings tried to fly,

He sought to soar high in the blue sky,

He jumped up and down,

In his best night gown,

But could not strong gravity defy.

The fourth sill dragon

There was a Basilisk from the north,

That used to move back and forth,

He went running one day,

But went for a play,

And still managed to come in fourth.

The third silly dragon

Water dragon from the deep sea came,

Dragon’s aim was to try to find fame,

With seaweed on head,

He sat on his bed,

Being silly was the name of the game.

The second silly dragon

The Cockatrice thought himself a cleaver beast,

He tried to make bread without yeast,

The loaves they looked well,

But gave him some hell,

Because the tins they had not been greased.

The first silly dragon

There was a giant Earth Worm from below,

That wanted some bubbles to blow,

He sucked up some water,

Much more than he ought ‘r,

But all he could make was some snow.

Yule (Geola)

Yule (Geola)

Introduction to Yule (Geola)

This period, like the roman Saturnalia was between the months of December and January. All the Anglo-Saxon months followed the Luna cycle. This was a twelve day period of feasting. The fields were mostly left until February when ploughing would begin again. Compare with, for example, the Polish tradition of keeping your Christmas tree up until Candlemas. In England until recent times ploughing did not recommence until Plough Monday, the first Monday after Twelfth Night.

Wuldorfadur ‘glory father’ representing the Solar Logos, was mentioned by Bede in his ‘On the Computation of Time’

Little is known about the winter goddess, but I infer from parallel Germanic traditions that it may have been Hella.

Modra Niht ’Holy Mothers' Night’ (24^th Dec) was again taken from, Bede’s ‘On the computation of time. Unfortunately we don’t know what happened on this night, but by the time of Bede it had become the start of the new year.

Yule (Geola)

Growing colder, by the degree.

Betwixt two months, Geola be,

Best stay inside, we doth agree,

Feast and wassail, blessing on thee.

For three short days, the sun hangs still,

In three more days, the new year’s chill.

And so let us, await until,

Wuldorfadur’s, feat to fulfil.

Rejoice us this, most sacred time,

The sun wilt soon, start his slow clime.

For twelve days feast, thy time art thine!

Raise thine goblet, sun wilt soon shine.

Winter goddess, we doth Invoke,

And leave the meads, until Imbolc.

Gather within, yon groves of oak,

And sing galdors, in hood and cloak.

Modra Niht was, Holy Mothers' Night,

Hail the Goddess, returning light.

By means of light, shalt thee invite.

Night of mothers', still secret rite,

Wheel of the year, she starts to turn,

Of summers warmth, we doth yet yearn.

The sun climes high, and starts to burn,

Wuldorfadur, thee shalt return!

Copyright Andrew Rea November 2012

First Day of Yule

First Day of Yule (remember Yule is all about having fun at the darkest time of the year)

Winter Solstice, the First Day of Yule,

Twelve days, ending in festive misrule.

Deck the home, with ivy and mistletoe,

Erect the Yule tree, with candles aglow.

A remnant of, the previous years log,

Light, the Yule bower as the prologue.

Thunder god Thunor’s holy, tree is oak,

Blessings be on, his name by all folk.

Oak is the best, will last and burn true,

If you haven’t a log, a candle will do.

Saturnalia as, the Romans would say,

Slaves and masters, tomfoolery day.

Copyright Andrew Rea 2007

Captured doing some street poetry

Wōdnesdæg (Wednesday)

 Wōdnesdæg (Wednesday)

Introduction to "Wōdnesdæg"

This poem is based on the everyday worship of Wodan by a peasant in a sacred forest clearing by an old oak tree.

While a full blot would have been attended by the whole village and led by a priest of Wodan with an animal sacrifice, here however, we see everyday worship of Wodan by a peasant asking for a favour.

The ownership of even a single cow or ox was confined to only about half the population and other livestock was too important to sacrifice except on important festivals e.g. during Blotmonath (November). So I conjecture that on this Wednesday only bread is sacrificed and mead is used for the pledge.

While some temples did exist to Wodan with enclosed spaces and statues, it was also common to Worship him in sacred groves, glades, hilltops, rivers, pools and other natural features. A priest of Wodan was not permitted to carry a sword or blade.

Liminal moments such as full moon, twilight or rising of moon were endowed with magic. Sacred oaks were used to bare witness to oaths. Wodan's two wolves and ravens manifest in name. The reference to 'Squirrel climes the tree' is a candid reference to the legend of the tree of Yggdrasil.

Glossary:

Galdor-cræft - conjuring spirits by chanting, singing or spell crafting

Middangeard - the realm of man

Wæs hæl - OE for wassail (your health)

Drychten - lord

Æsir - the principal gods

Asgard – the realm of the gods

Translation of the OE stanza:

Wodan make sacred!

Our Wodan   that is in heaven,

Your name is holy.

What we need    give us today,

Be done your will!

And yes I borrowed most of it from the Lord’s Prayer because it seemed to fit!

Wōdnesdæg (Wednesday)

Knee length brown tunic, in warp and weft weaves,

Embroidered red hems, to neck and long sleeves.

Patterned belt buckle, and pointed strap-end,

Pouches and short knife, ready to attend.

No temple doth stand, within sacred glade,

No priest of Wodan, without sword and blade.

Deep in dark forest, rising of full moon,

Holy hearth clearing, rite of ritual rune.

Blot without a beast, in woodland twilight,

Loaf of best baked bread, awaiting moon light.

Half horn of mild mead, torn old ochre cloak,

An oath to exchange, at thousand year oak.

Liminal moment, charged with special power,

Offering laid down, at base of the bower.

Consecrated grove, spirit witness tree,

Healer of nine herbs, I doth invoke thee.

Galdor-craeft:

Wodan weoh!

Wodan ure þu    þe eart on heofonum,

Si þin nama gehalgod.

Hwæt we nied     syle us todæg,

Gewurþe ðin willa!

Listening for Freki, in torn cloak with hood,

Middangeard doth fade, in winter's wild wood.

Leader of 'Wild Hunt’, Wodan magic lord,

Thine will be'est done, unto thine accord.

Howling wolves hard by, about on the tor,

Cracking of branches, beneath Geri's paw.

Ravens rustle trees, cold cry of Hugin,

Forest falls silent, awaiting Munin.

Raising horn wæs hæl, “Drychten I beseech",

Making Wodan pledge, as the witches teach.

Aesir in Asgard, I give thee my word,

Squirrel climes the tree, my favour is heard!

Copyright Andrew Rea October 2012

December (Ærra Geola)

December

Introduction to 'December' (Ærra Geola) 

This poem describes some of the preparations for Yule (Geola) during Saxon times. Much of the material comes from 'The Good Reeve', a kind of farming handbook of late Saxon era.

December (Ærra Geola) 

The Anglo-Saxon, month before Yule,

Twilight darkness, long night to rule.

The sacred time, darkest of year

Shadows shiver, have thee no fear.

In muddy mire, up with thine hood,

Fallen timber, working wild wood.

Form ash faggots, for Yuletide fire,

Half height pit hut, heave them higher.

Long winter nights, still working hard,

Corn drying kilns, warm in the yard.

Bitter coldness, becometh cruel,

Time to gather, winter's last fuel.

Yule corn to thresh, and husk winnow,

Protect thine foul, from wolves and snow.

Keep animals safe, be on thine guard,

Long winter nights, time for the bard.

Twelve days of Yule, she draweth near,

In old pit hut, we brew best beer.

Yuletide feasting, to celebrate,

Even the sun, he gets up late.

Copyright Andrew Rea November 2012