Norse Mythology in Old Legends and New Fables
There’s a good deal of Norse mythology in Old Legends and New Fables because in a lot of ways, Norse feels the closest to my Germanic roots. I’ve felt an affinity for it for probably 20+ years, and two of my multitude of tattoos are Norse runes. In this collection, the poems “The Three Roosters of Ragnarok, 1816” and “The Norns Weave Steel” both use Norse mythology to tell interesting stories.
“The Three Roosters of Ragnarok, 1816” is a reference to the Year without a Summer, when a volcanic eruption and the resultant particulate matter in the atmosphere meant the summer months were considerably colder than normal conditions. This is the summer that brought about the inspiration for Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and it’s a favorite topic of mine. The poem is a cento that uses bits from the Poetic Edda alongside a poem by Lord Byron, which seems appropriate for a combination of Ragnarok and the Year without a Summer.
“The Norns Weave Steel,” on the other hand, takes the idea of the Norns as weavers of fate being responsible for bringing the knowledge of steel to humanity, and how they could use that material as an element of fate as well.
Both of these poems, as well as many others and several short stories, can be found in Old Legends and New Fables, which is only available as an ebook.
Comments