The Norwegian Rune Poem

In Modern English

1. Wealth is a source of discord among kinsmen;
   the wolf lives in the forest.
2. Dross comes from bad iron;
   the reindeer often races over the frozen snow.
3. Giant causes anguish to women;
   misfortune makes few men cheerful.
4. Estuary is the way of most journeys;
   but a scabbard is of swords.
5. Riding is said to be the worst thing for horses;
   Reginn forged the finest sword.
6. Ulcer is fatal to children;
   death makes a corpse pale.
7. Hail is the coldest of grain;
   Christ created the world of old.
8. Constraint gives scant choice;
   a naked man is chilled by the frost.
9. Ice we call the broad bridge;
   the blind man must be led.
10. Plenty is a boon to men;
    I say that Frothi was generous.
11. Sun is the light of the world;
    I bow to the divine decree.
12. Tyr is a one-handed god;
    often has the smith to blow.
13. Birch has the greenest leaves of any shrub;
    Loki was fortunate in his deceit.
14. Man is an augmentation of the dust;
    great is the claw of the hawk.
15. A waterfall is a River which falls from a mountain-side;
    but ornaments are of gold.
16. Yew is the greenest of trees in winter;
    it is wont to crackle when it burns.