The Delay of Alvis

A little raven told me what REALLY went down on that day. That raven, however,
was well into his cups, so I´d take what he claimed with a grain of salt. Or a pretzel.

One evening in Valhalla
was sitting as a guest
a dwarf by name of Alvís,
carousing with the rest.

He ate with dwarfish hunger,
he drank with dwarfish thirst,
but never was contented
although his girdle burst.

"So poorly, hostess Frigga",
called he,"treat you a dwarf?
My horn is ever empty,
your servants let me starve!"

"Each guest shall have", said Frigga,
"his share of mead and boar;
I promise you´ll be given
what next comes through this door."

And who just then should enter
for serving his demand
but handsome Thrud, Thor´s daughter,
a cup of ale in hand.

Then Alvís took the ale cup,
he also took her hand,
and said,"Since you are promised,
I´ll wed you where you stand."

Quick-witted Thrud responded,
"Your claim must be reserved:
First you must ask my father,
for custom must be served."

When Thor returned from Utgard,
he smashed a bench and frothed
to find his only daughter
to a greedy dwarf betrothed.

"What good are you?", Thor snorted,
while Alvís looked aloof,
replying:"I know everything
and mean to give you proof."

"Then tell me", Thor said, "all the names
in dwarves' and mankind's lore,
in tongue of elf and As and Van,
until I ask no more."

True to his name was Alvís then,
he really knew the lore
in tongue of elf and As and Van,
but Thor kept asking more.

And though he knew the whole Nine Worlds,
still Alvís was not wise:
He answered Thor till morning came,
right until Sunna´s rise.

As every child can tell you,
the sun turns dwarves to stone;
to this day, Alvís' statue
stands in Valhall – alone.

© Michaela Macha

This work by Michaela Macha is licensed
under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives License.