O rune-tongued Lord without a hall

Welcome at hearth of each and all,

I dedicate this rhyme to you,

Although its words are far from true.

O Bragi, ever-eloquent the lord

Whose words and voice are wealth and hoard,

Bless those of us with lesser gift

Whose tangled tongues can make no shrift,

Whose frequent fumble-fingered rhymes

Make people wince and check the time.

We yet persist to speak aloud

Our third-rate stuff to any crowd

Who listens, for our hearts are true

If not our words worthy of you.

O Skald of Skalds, help us to find

Some clarity of skill and mind,

Give us fine words, and polish bright

Our voice, like quartz held to the light,

That it might shine through us as well

As skalds of whom the legends tell.

And thank you, Lord, for skill you lend

That I might rhyme from start to end.

Artwork by Righon.