Reflections from Mímisbrunnr
What must the old man’s eye see,
floating in the dark waters of Mimir’s well,
the twisted root of Yggdrasil
writhing, waiting, at its base?
The familiar, hair-covered feet
and brittle-nailed toes of one
now lost, swinging from the blood-
stained bark of the ash tree?
When Nidhogg cuts its tooth on
the gnarled roots, will the Allmaker’s eye
finally shudder and sink, escaping the flames
of Ragnarok, or stare out in horror at the world’s end,
waiting for the gentle hands of Lif and Lifthrasir
to pluck it like a seedling, and start anew?
Shelly Jones (she/they) is a
Professor of English at a small college in upstate New York, where she teaches
classes in mythology, folklore, and writing. Her speculative work has
previously appeared in Podcastle, New Myths, The
Future Fire, and elsewhere. Find them on Twitter @shellyjansen.
No comments:
Post a Comment