Ismaer

The Tale of Ísmær

In the ancient Skald-Songs Stories of the north-land, Told by swift-Tongued elders, Tell of mighty giants And oF hero’s Valor, Valhalla and Asgard. And the iCe-born ÍSmær, Snow-maid, clever, fairest.

By THe norTHern sea-gate, THere dwelled lovely Ísmær . DaughTer of no morTal, Time, not woman, birthed her. Lived she in the snow-Lands, Lonely, on an island, BlisSful, and not Seeing Sorrows of the far-world.

Ísmær Sat on South-shore, Summer months beginning. Sky above Did Darken, Dragon dropped from earth-ends! Long aS Seven warships, Scales like hard-forged iron. Sent by Death-bounD Hela, Dark-world’s overseer.

Hela, in Her death-hall, Had four carven marble Seeing-Stones of power. Saw eye-tale inside stone, ÍSmær’S god-wrought beauty. Sent forth dragon northward, Want-rage creeping through Her. Hers great beauty would be !

Ísmær, fear-Sense riSing, Snatched by dragon’s talons, ThoughT of how To life-keep, To her island return. “How Have I offended? Have I given insult? iF I have, Forgive me,” Forth spoke to her captor. Then did Turn the Dragon, To its heart her words went. Said it theN uNto her, “No insult have you given. Hela DeaTH-Queen sent me, THat she might have beauty. Now I reGret Greatly Going to her service.”

Hela, in her death-Hall, Heard the conversation. Anger Rose within heR, Raged she at her servant. Cried she of hiS falSeness, Sent she forth a fell-storm, Sea to Water-Walls turned, Winds to icy hammers!*

ÍsmæR and the dRagon, Rising on the soft-winds, From the norTH THe storm came, THor-force wind surrounded. Ísmær forth To Hela Told her this, “O Lady, You storm-Toss The faulTless. This, iT makes you happy?”

Hela, in Her death-hall, Heard the words of Ísmær. Stopped she THen THe dark-storms, THor-force winds no longer. Danger there Deserted, Dragon flew on freely. LanDed it on white-sanD Down it laid fair Ísmær.

In the ancient Skald-Songs Stories of the north-land TelL of maiden’s vaLor- Lucky man can best it. In the well-builT meaD-hall Toast they the Ice-Maiden. “Hail,” cry Worthy Warriors, “Won her life with words!”

• I couldn’t give up the great line, but I couldn’t find a rhyme either.

You can find the rules for writing a Dróttkvætt here [Svensdrapa]