Hail to the Father | giver of breath

Who raised the trees to life

Crafter of Midgard | from Ymir’s corpse

You fashioned our home

 

You stand atop | Yggdrasil’s branches

The great, all-seeing throne

No thing is hidden | beneath the gaze

Of the One-Eyed God

 

Wisdom long sought | between Well and Tree,

In all the Nine Worlds;

Bought with pain | earned by patience,

Is wisdom well paid

 

Upon the mountain | a challenge given

Plucked the eye freely offered

Orb formed of Your flesh | pressed firmly deep

Waking the wolf within

 

Patient is the Long-Watcher | who seats Hliðskjálf

Seeing the whole tapestry;

Sighting the Threads | woven by Frigga,

Wyrd is known well

 

Gangleri sought Völvas’ ways | and to Folkvangr came,

seeking the wisdom of Gefn;

She pierced Him through | and taught Him well,

In woman’s dress He learned

 

Well-wrought the lessons | at Skjálf’s feet

By fire and distaff spun,

Prophecy and power | came to Grimnir’s call

Who learned Hörn’s ways

 

Sviðurr He left | Freya’s golden hall,

ranging wide in Ve and stride;

Doors closed were open | ways unseen shown bright,

No thing held from Odin’s path

 

Long suffered He | who traded Eye and Life

for giving wisdom to the Worlds;

Praise to the Allfather | given in gratitude

for gifts heaped upon gifts

 

Hail to Odin | in times of peace

for its blessings are hard-won;

Hail to Odin | in times of strife

for oft does it visit

 

Ever-mindful is Odin | of His children

who wanders the whole of Midgard

Hugin and Munin | ever-watch and wheel

and speak news to His waiting Ear

 

---