The Longest Night

Framed by a verse form from the 12th century, Edda Measures, a Nordic myth is told.

The Longest Night

Baldur of the light, beloved of the gods,
Son of Odin, who could suffer no harm
but for a plant, a parasite with petite white berries
growing far in the forest, fabled for a kiss.

Thinking him invincible, the gods would train
by throwing their spears at same, a game.
His brother who lived in darkness became a pawn
of Loki the trickster, talented and jealous.

This deceiver designed a dart of mistletoe
and guided the blind man's aim toward the target.
The unwitting Hod, murdered his brother
and the light went out in the land of the Norse.
                             ~~Judi Van Gorder


Notes: ▶︎

12 Lines
Verse Form: Speech Measure or Malahattr from the 12th century, Edda Measures  
The elements are of Speech Measure or Malahattr are:
         1. stanzaic, written in any number of quatrains.
         2. accentual, written with 4 strong stresses per line. There are 3 or 4 unstressed syllables in each hemistich (half-line) This is much like Anglo Saxon Verse.
         3. composed with the 3rd stressed syllable of each line alliterating with either or both of the 1st and 2nd stressed syllable, but the 4th stress rarely alliterates within the line. Instead, the 4th stressed syllable of the line can cross alliterate with the following line.

The poem is inspired by a Nordic myth explaining the murder of the God of Light, Baldur, son of Odin by his blind brother, Hod and instigated by Loki, the trickster.