within, Within - An Odin Poem

One of my Walking Dream poems, written from a glimpse of a heavily wooded hillock across a grain field as we drove the interstate in northern Ohio. heading back to Illinois from Massachusetts.

This is an encounter with Odin.

within Within

29 Ostara 2252 RE

29 April 2002

 Into the Grove – adapted by PiparPix

Island of trees, upon green field

Shrouded by mist, secret and calm

Harboring what, unknown and strange

Hidden from sight, lying in wait

Larger it seems, as I come close

Than it appeared, from far away

Three hides and more, wild and green

Touch of the old, forests of yore

Looming ahead, as I stride forth

Mixture of oak, maple and birch

Willow and elm, hickory, beech

This place beckons, dense, dark and cool

Off to my right, faint path is seen

Draped by branches, of a deadfall

Down on one knee, small hole is there

Twig framed tunnel, then way is clear

Faint call is heard, sounds like my name

Inwards I go, seeking to find

Who would be here, that I would know

Who would be here, that would know me

Two man lengths in, tangle is passed

Underbrush thins, way is more worn

Dimly Sunna, shines through the fog

Down past the leaves, all is like dusk

Whisper again, speaking my name

Floating on breeze, from up ahead

Puzzled am I, interest piqued

Nod and a shrug, onward I’ll go

 

After awhile, way angles up

Small tor rises, heavily treed

Stones are now seen, laid down with care

Forming a walk, to the hilltop

Over a swell, of the knoll’s flank

Flagstones level, forming a flat

Before a gate, blackened with age

Two men tall and, four spears lengths wide

Oaken timbers, hand-hewn they look

Dark iron bands, spiked cross the door

Twin leaves they are, framed by more oak

Set in a niche, carved from the hill

No rings are seen, on the door’s face

I pause to think, what now to do

Walk up to it, push on one slab

It shifts a bit, swinging within

Pausing again, looking at gap

Handspan it is, deep black inside

Name comes again, out of the dark

I will go on, riddle to solve

Set back to door, push with my legs

With some effort, both sides open

Mist has cleared some, sun is behind

Afternoon light, shows a broad hall

At the far end, archway is seen

Large as the gate, open it is

Faint light is there, within its depth

Deed to be done, onward I go

One hundred steps, in from the door

Great stone arch stands, arm stretch ahead

Hallway bends right, glow is now strong

Flickering like, flames on a hearth

Three more steps in, look down the hall

Another arch, carved from the hill

Closer this one, voice calls again

Breath and a blink, nod at the sound

Fifty paces, second arch passed

Enter into, flame lit chamber

Vast size it is, ceiling is lost

In shadowed height, atop the walls

Benches, tables, along the sides

Firepits burn, down the middle

At the far end, raised from the floor

One large, lone chair, massively built

Whisper again, out from the throne

Figure is seen, seated thereon

Flickering light, playing its tricks

Sight is not clear, so I draw close

As I walked there, others appeared

Crowding into, corner of eye

Ghostly shape of, men sitting there

Shadowy feast, from out of Lore

Two hundred strides, to face the Seat

Shadows shrank down, flames leap up high

Clearly now I, could see a man

Sitting enthroned, upon the rise

Around me now, clearly, also

Feasters appeared, silently watch

As I gaze round, wonderment plain

Taking in sights, awe-fully struck

My name again, plain spoke this time

My eyes snapped to, One on High Seat

Startled I was, ravens and wolves

Now did appear, I stood slack jawed

Bright blue His eyes, pierced me with cold

Chill the power, within the Look

His eyes narrowed, as if in thought

Hint of a nod, seemed that I’d do

Words I now spoke, poem and song

My work and that, of others who

Verses I knew, verses I liked

Long did I sing, before He waved

Grim was His face, but friendly, too

A smile came, and a full nod

Sounds now arose, from the Hall Folk

Calling my name, calling me Skald

He waved again, silence fell down

Beckoned me close, looked In again

Smiled anew, tossed me a ring

I bowed in thanks, He nodded back

I sensed the time, of Wonder Walk

Had come right close, to its good end

My name once more, did He speak out

Then did He wave, me to the door

I backed away, fires grew low

Feasters did fade, shadows lengthened

He was still there, with birds and beasts

But grown misty, as in a dream

Odin, I said, cold washed o’er me

Last Sight I had, was of His eyes

Piercing and blue, grim and kindly

Wisdom I saw, and Kingly mien

Alone in the dark, I found myself

Surrounded by, trunks of tall trees

Oak and maple, willow and birch

Hickory, beech, and rough barked elm

Within this grove, body had stayed

While mind and soul, walked twixt the worlds

Was it the Hall, of Battle Slain

Visit I did, within Within

The Holy Ones, live in this World

Live in Their World, live in all Worlds

Visit They do, and so do we

Bound by Orlay, deep in the Well

Island of trees, upon green field

Shrouded by mist, secret and calm

Harboring what, unknown and strange

Hidden from sight, lying in wait