Song of the Sigurd Stones

Song of the Sigurd Stones

A Poem by Rick Puetter
"

A dwarven blacksmith, young apprentice, Norse gods, and a dragon

"


The Ramsund carving, depicting the entire Sigurd story. This image was first published in the 1st (1876-1899), 2nd (1904-1926) or 3rd (1923-1937) edition of Nordisk familjebok. The copyrights for that book have expired and this image is in the public domain. This image has been modified from the original. The original image can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sigurdr.png.

 
 

Song of the Sigurd Stones
 
                         I
 
As thick mists drift slow down mountains
Stealthy boat makes course down river
Oarlocks mute, no blades touch water
Glides the craft in deathly silence
 
                         II
 
Here before the break of morning
Setting moon’s full face lights hillside
Lights the water and the forest
Moon beams dance awaiting sunrise
 
                         III
 
Gently now the wind is blowing
Leaves through forest make faint shiver
On this night all else is quiet
Quiet on the moon-lit river
 
                         IV
 
Now the boat, it finds the shoreline
And strong arms now pull it upward
Upward past shore’s stones it passes
Upward through the beach-line grasses
 
                         V
 
Now the boat’s contents are emptied
Shield and sword are gently lifted
Sword with blade that has been blackened
Dark the blade with magic gifted
 
                          VI
 
This, the sword, it was his father’s
Now reforged strong from the pieces
Pieces from when sword was broken
Shattered on the spear of Odin1
 
                         VII
 
Now on back the shield is fastened
Over shoulder hangs sword scabbard
Now toward trees his pace is hastened
Purpose fixed, the lad moves forward
 
                         VIII
 
He is Sigurd, son of Sigmund
He has seen not twenty summers
He is young, yet warrior is he
Unmatched strength flows in his sword arm
 
                        IX
 
From his blue eyes shines a fire
Strength of will shows in his bearing
Agile are his movements daring
As he leaves the forest clearing
 
                         X
 
He has come to kill a monster
Come to kill the dragon Fafnir2
And to take the dragon’s treasure3
And to gain the Ring of Power4
 
                ****     ****
 
                         XI
 
How, then, is it he has come here?
Skulking through the woods at night time
Bearing dire and deadly weapon
With a will bent to destruction?
 
                         XII
 
It is by the will of Æsir!5
To fulfill the plans of Odin
Odin who did kill his father
Even though he be his own kin
 
                         XIII
 
It was thus, Sigurd apprenticed
To the dwarf who was a craftsman
There to learn the art of smithing
Restore sword that once was broken
 
                         XIV
 
For this skilled dwarf, Mime, was banished
Banished from his home by Alberich
Maker of the Ring of Power
This the Ring now sought by Odin
 
                         XV
 
But the Ring, the dragon had it
Thus must Sigurd slay fierce Fafnir
For the Ring, old Mime must have it
To give power over Alberich
 
                         XVI
 
Odin, too, for power He sought it
For dominion over giants
Ragnarök6 He’d then face gladly
Fenris Wolf7 though howl so madly
 
                         XVII
 
Sigurd, he would kill the dragon
And for Mime bring shame to Alberich
Odin, then He’d take the dwarf Ring
Through its powers He’d remain King
 
                         XVIII
 
Now the old dwarf fed the forge flame
Stoked the fire, heated iron
On the anvil rang his hammer
Squealed the blade when thrust in water
 
                         XIX
 
Sigurd then did test the new blade
Swung it high, up to the heavens
Then with mighty blow to anvil
Shattered sword in all directions
 
                         XX
 
“Make another!” bellowed Sigurd
“Make a sword that will kill dragons!
Are you smith or are you farmer?”
Screamed the lad in maddened passion
 
                         XXI
 
Fearing for his life the smithy
Stoked again his fire hotly
Then, again, begun another
To appease the young man’s anger
 
                         XXII
 
But again the sword he shattered
Shattered it upon the anvil
With his strength and his will’s power
No mere blade could match his testing
 
                         XXIII
 
Fearing for his life, then Mime ran
To the forest, ran and hid, he
He’d wait out the young man’s fury
Then creep back and plead for mercy
 
                         XXIV
 
Odin cloaked as old man came then
Came and saw the sulking Sigurd
Saw his anger and his passion
Knew frustration of his grandson
 
                         XXV
 
Odin came, He, with a present
Came with shards of the sword Nothung
This, the sword of Sigurd’s father
This, the sword of dead King Sigmund!
 
                         XXVI
 
Then the lad, in joy unbounded
He took up the old sword’s pieces
“I need nothing, I need no one,”
Sang the lad, “For I have Nothung!”
 
                         XXVII
 
And then Sigurd stoked the fire
Odin breathed his breath upon it
Odin charmed both fire and pieces
All His hopes now in his grandson
 
                         XXVIII
 
Sigurd sang, all night the forge blazed
All night long sang song of hammer
Voice of smith and clang of anvil
Forging sword that once was broken
 
                         XXIX
 
“Nothung!” cried the lad near morning
“I have forged you, now I wield you!”
And with mighty swing the young lad
Cut in twain the iron anvil
 
                         XXX
 
“I am coming, dragon Fafnir!
Do you tremble, do your scales shake?
I will open up your belly
And your treasure, glad, will I take”
 
                         XXXI
 
This is how our tale was started
Odin’s plan would not be thwarted
He had plans for grandson, Sigurd
He would win the Ring of Alberich
 
                  ****     ****
 
                         XXXII
 
Forest birds they now were waking
Now dawn’s bright rays lit the forest
And the steam rose from the grasses
And the sun's light danced in tree tops
 
                         XXXIII
 
Now the young lad, Sigurd, hid he
Deep in hole along the pathway
Odin showed him how to hide there
Waiting for the dragon Fafnir
 
                         XXXIII
 
He would pass soon up above him
On his way unto the river
Sigurd upward then would thrust, he
Into softer underbelly
 
                        XXXIV
 
Now in quiet waits the young lad
Meting out his breaths so careful
Drawing blackened sword from scabbard
With his arms strong, eyes so watchful
 
                         XXXV
 
In the distance, through faint bird calls
Can be heard the sound of dragon
Faintly snorting, faintly walking
Making way unto the river
 
                         XXXVI
 
Sound now loudens, coming closer
He can hear the vile monster
Now he smells him, and he tastes him
Strong with stench of fetid waters
 
                         XXXVII
 
Now the monster up above him
Now the time to strike hard upward
Cover pushed back with his shield arm
Up with deadly sword thrusts Sigurd
 
                         XXXVIII
 
Bellows now the dragon Fafnir
Rises he upon his hind legs
Nothung pierced through underbelly
Now begins the dire mêlée
 
                         XXXIX
 
Dangling from the dread blade Nothung
Hangs the fearless lad named Sigurd
Dragon reeling, tail now lashing
Away young hero now sent crashing
 
                         XL
 
But hard training ‘ ne’er desert him
He to sword hilt held so firmly
When the lad was knocked asunder
He drew, too, the sword from Fafnir
 
                         XLI
 
Now the skies shrieked and the ground shook
Deathly blow had been delivered
Fafnir’s eyes flared and his breath choked
He must kill this young intruder
 
                         XLII
 
Sigurd nimbly, Sigurd quickly
Ran and leaped, he, toward the dragon
Bringing down a mighty sword stroke
Opened, he, the dragon’s belly
 
                         XLIII
 
Fafnir’s tail lashed, body crumpled
This the end, his life now fleeting
With a final thrust to his heart
Dragon’s life was there now ended
 
                         XLIV
 
Deathly silence filled the forest
Now no bird sang and no wind blew
With the killing of the monster
Deepest silence now the world knew
 
                         XLV
 
In deep quiet stood the morning
World’s breath held, no exhalation
What lay next?  The monster now dead
All life froze in expectation
 
                         XLVI
 
Now his horn calls fill the morning
Sound through valley and through forest
Horn calls echo off the mountains
Proclaim triumph over Fafnir
 
                         XLVII
 
Now he in deep joy rejoicing
Unbound is his exultation
He is victor over Fafnir
Life surpassed all expectation
 
                         XLVIII
 
Sigurd breathless, but exultant
Sits he down and he remembers
He remembers words of Odin
When he came to him a stranger
 
                         XLIX
 
For this stranger told a story
Told of lore and told of powers
Told of powers of the beast’s blood
How to bathe in blood of Fafnir
 
                         L
 
So the beast’s blood he collected
And so too beast’s heart did take, he
And now naked in blood stood there
Bathing in red life of Fafnir
 
                         LI
 
But unseen, a leaf, it fell there
Shielding skin from magic potion
On his shoulder, on his skin bare
Here from wound there no protection8
 
                         LII
 
Then the dragon’s heart, he cooked it
And he ate it for its powers
Now the talk of creatures knows, he
Knowledge of their ways now flowers
 
                         LIII
 
This has been a day of wonder
This has been a day rejoicing
All his hopes and aspirations
In one day found consummation
 
                         LIV
 
And he had the dragon’s treasure
And he had the Ring of Power
Surely by most any measure
He’ll find joy that’s never ending
 
                         LV
 
Oh, now what in life can stop him?
He has all! Commands such powers!
For all time he’ll be the Master
He’ll reap all life’s richest treasures
 
                         LVI
 
And yet still this hero ‘ mortal!
Though great strength and powers has he
Still in time all powers whither
Weakness gains as days grow plenty
 
                         LVII
 
With success, the seeds of failure
As with all life, there’s an ending
How one’s days on earth ‘ delivered
There is man’s life value pending
 
                         LVIII
 
This the lesson, wisdom’s gleanings
All one’s power in life is fleeting
Pick your joys and your thanksgivings
Deeds you do they give life meaning
 
                         LIX
 
In the future, there his doom lies9
He is weak, yet does not know it
Now he’s at his height of glory
But not ending of his story
 
                         LX
 
No one knows what present portends
Live you well, no matter life ends
Keep sword sharp; face brave your new dawns
Do not flinch; go face Life’s dragons
 
                         LXI
 
Now his horn calls in the distance
He now Lord of all existence!
...Unbowed sails he toward setting sun...
Be monsters there?  Well, let them come!
 
 
 
©2009 Richard Puetter
All rights reserved
 
 
 
 

Photographer: Berig (http::en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Berig). License: GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version.  The original image can be seen at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/S%C3%B6_327%2C_G%C3%B6k.JPG.  This runestone is located at Gök. It is from the same time as the Ramsund carving and uses similar imagery

 
 
Notes
 
     The current story centers around the Norse/Germanic legend of the dragon slayer. There are many variations in the story and the hero is known by many names. This story was deeply rooted in the people and there are many representations of this story left in stone petroglyphs. The Sigurd stones are a group of stone carvings from the Viking age and are the earliest representations of the dragon slayer legend, which were eventually set down in the Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, and the Icelandic (Old Norse) Völsunga saga.
 
     The Nibelungenlied (The Song of the Nibelungs) is a Middle High German epic poem that parallels the Norse legend. The famous Richard Wagner cycle of four operas, Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), consisting of the operas Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold), Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung (The Twilight of the Gods), and an amazing almost 18 hours of music, are based on this poem and the Norse legends.
 
     In these tales the dragon slayer goes by the name of Sigurd (Old Norse: Sigurðr) in the Völsunga saga, or Sivard Snarensven(d) in several medieval Scandinavian ballads, or Siegfried, in the German Nibelungenlied. As do Wagner’s operas, I have drawn from all sources (but most heavily from Wagner’s interpretation). Sigurd’s sword also has many names such as Gram and Nothung (Wagner’s operas). Whatever the source, this is a powerful tale that has gripped most of Europe.
 
[1]Odin is the King of the Norse/Germanic gods. He is grandfather to Sigurd and seeks to control the Ring of Power to be able to defeat the Giants who have built Valhalla, the city of the god’s, and who have not been paid for their labors.
 
[2]There are many variations of the tale of Fafnir, but this is the dragon that commonly guards the treasure sought by Sigurd. In most stories he was an evil person that became a dragon either to guard the treasure better or for some other magical reason.
 
[3]In some stories this treasure is what is needed to pay the Giants that built Valhalla, in others it is just a treasure. In still others it is a tribute paid by the gods for killing Fafnir’s brother. Again, in most stories Fafnir steals, or in some way gains, the treasure by evil deeds, sometimes by killing his father.
 
[4]Not all the stories have a ring involved, but in the version of Wagner’s Ring Cycle, this ring is needed by Odin. In Wagner’s story, the Ring was forged by the dwarf Alberich, which was only possible because he renounced love.
 
[5]The Æsir are the Norse gods.
 
[6]Ragnarök is the final battle in which it is foreseen that many of the major gods, including Odin, will die. This is the time when according to Bellow’s translation of the Poetic Edda the sun becomes black while the earth sinks into the sea, the stars vanish, steam rises, and flames touch the heavens.
 

 [7]The wolf that kills Odin in the battle of Ragnarök, although eventually killed by Thor, one of Odin’s sons.

 
[8]Like Achilles, Sigurd becomes invulnerable all over his body from bathing in the dragon’s blood with the lone exception of his shoulder, which was covered by a leaf as he bathed.
 
[9]Sigurd is eventually killed as a young man through treachery.

© 2014 Rick Puetter


Author's Note

Rick Puetter
Inspired by Wagner's Ring Cycle (among others)--see notes.

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Featured Review

The first time I read through it, the only distraction was the voice in my head that kept saying "is he REALLY tackling this?" It was a good tackle! The Ring Cycle is so rich with history and drama, it is fertile ground for re-telling. Doing it well, and in verse - and with your typical attention to detail, footnotes etc. Great to learn and re-learn from you as you put these pieces together.

Posted 14 Years Ago


6 of 6 people found this review constructive.




Reviews

Quite and epic you've composed! Wonderfully penned!

Posted 9 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

This one is written just as well as your other work. It is well put together and I am happy that you shared them with me.

Posted 10 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Your mythic poems are always so fantastic to read, and so incredibly intelligent with impeccable structure and rhyme. I'm not ashamed to say that I had great fun reading this out loud with my "deep-storyteller" voice. Someone here mentioned Tolkien's work, and I'd like to see that and raise them one Blind Guardian (Celtic Power Metal band). Their songs are based predominately on the works of Tolkien and other myths. On their album "Nightfall in Middle-Earth" the first track is a spoken narration which I was reminded of through out my reading of your poem. Which made me believe that this would be fantastic if read in a similar style. Here's a link to it (no music, just narration)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oynp8s3w4SY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I don't really get the impression that you'd be into Power Metal but I can bet that there would be Power Metal bands that are into you.
I applaud you.

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

very interesting poem, I like the fact you brought the story from the Ramsund carving back to life. It was long, but not long enough for me, hehe. Your words are beautiful written! well done.

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

It is said that our favorite stories resonate deep within us because they are based on myths based on myth based on legend. I have always been fascinated by Tolkien's ability to put word and story on page, and I so strongly see the building blocks of his own work in this myth, one of surely hundreds if not thousands he studied as a linguistic scholar. Your patience with, and knowledge of, the subject; is astounding, and the tale you recreate for us is fascinating.

Posted 12 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

A scientific approach to a squalid prose, a mere drop to an ocean of intelligence and integrity. I find myself drifting to Dante's Inferno and suing myth to pull me out. I loved your flourish of imagery and battled scars that seem to hit the reader with as mush power as it does subtle, well written, a beautiful prose. Also the fierceness of slap you use is refreshing, well done.

Posted 12 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

I don't have much to say, just like Fabian. I just wish people would sit down and read such good poetry. And kudos for your time and dedication in maintaining the diction and rhythm of this awesome piece; and also for the research put into it. Keep up with the classic verse. Keep writing.

Posted 13 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Well, a nice poem you wrote, my epic has 400 stanzas, I know how difficult it was to keep the classical meter, and the rhyme form, you did it well here; thanks goodness, not complete my epic work I posted on WC, so there are many stanzas which are yet unique in that work of mine.... But I have to say - you wrote this in the style like I wrote my long epic poem, which has been posted on WC, in several parts. You also borrowed here and there few lines. This is the reason why I had to leave, for the plagiarism is becoming more and more a habit and the unique character of a poem is destroyed when one can see it suddenly in several works - and I don't care if you or someone else means, this is not so. However, what ever poem it was, the classical metric poetry I posted - always before you or anybody else this no one can prove that they posted on WC before me - and so you - never wrote something before me when my poem and your poem had the same style. That I never borrowed from you nor other writer here - that's clear. I don't care if you are physicist or laborer, we are anonymous here and this does not even mean that someone who has a degree and is a "good parrot" is also a great creator full of his own first sparkling ideas! This is not always so! I just had the urge to tell you. It is you see - always about the first idea. I am proud to say - that I never ever borrowed one word from anybody, not from you nor other poet on WC. They - this several times - "borrowed" from me. Well, I also have read your essay about the universe and Big Bang - I wrote a lot about it lots of times and posted on WC during the period of 2006- 2010 and was happy to see - you didn't go where I went with my thoughts - and that this your essay - was your text (at least not mine, not one of my ideas. And so glad to see that, at least some positive observation after so many negative experiences .

Posted 13 Years Ago


One word: breathtaking

Posted 14 Years Ago


1 of 2 people found this review constructive.


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6896 Views
27 Reviews
Shelved in 6 Libraries
Added on December 2, 2009
Last Updated on January 9, 2014

Author

Rick Puetter
Rick Puetter

San Diego, CA



About
So what's the most important thing to say about myself? I guess the overarching aspect of my personality is that I am a scientist, an astrophysicist to be precise. Not that I am touting science.. more..

Writing