(A poem dedicated to the story of Balders death by the hands of Loki. This was written by myself on January 2nd, 2009. ~Spaerunn Helgardar)

OF BALDERS DEATH
Captured I who heard a cry
Upon the ill winds of the night
In the dark new moon, not once was a boon
Or I thankful for my sight

My spine would quake, and so would wake
The whole of the Middle Garth
But fire would spurn and dare not burn
And lie barren in Gladheims hearth

For Loki had tricked and Hodr had pricked
Bright Balder with mistletoe arrow
And light did not shine on far Nifelhiems rime
And sent him to Helheims starry barrow.

So Frigga did weep, and her troth I did keep
To travel to dark Nastronds shores
To speak with the grace of Hel’s half-face
And open the death-hall’s great doors.

While I traveled not slack on Slepnirs back
Woden carved Myrk-runes so dire
What must be done, as he whispered to his son
And lit the Athlings boat as a pyre.

Over cool Vid and frothing Hrd
Nine nights over Fimbuthul and Svol
Over Leipt, Fjorm, Nigrand, so soon I would stand
On the bridge of Gunnthra and Gjoll

The giantess spoke and thus did invoke
My lineage short but proud
So without loss was I given leave to cross
Like a thousand men marching loud

The gates stood still and thus bode ill
My journey would not be undone
So high I did leap into Eljudinr’s Keep
Over the gates did I fly to Wodens son.

I would enter the hall, thus I would call
An audience with the Queen of Hel
I would not have to wait and plead Balders fate
Where he now was forced to dwell

She patiently listened though a tear did not glisten
As I spoke of Loki’s great wrong
Of Balders bright light to be needed in the sight
Of Asgards sorrowful throng

Hel then spoke and thus did invoke
A condition she chose as a test
Balder would lie, unless all chose to cry
And prove Balder was the God loved best

Of love, light, and mirth, of gentle rebirth
Did Balder rise and give me reed
Of Draupnir did he remove, and thus I was behooved
To give Woden a gentle reprieve

As Skalds sing, so messengers bring
Word of this test far and wide
All should shed tear, or all would know fear
And none would again see Balder ride

But Wyrd was spun before tears were won
By those who traveled far
And all would cry, save one with dark eye
And Balders renewal was a bar

Thokk was her name, and she was to blame
For not once would she give
Not tear to shed from her wretched head
And let Balder once again live

So Hel would keep, what all would seek
And the Shining One would thought to be lost
But only Hel would show, in Fimbulvinters snow
When Balder returned at the end of Bifrost