The Ginnungspa

A poem by Bragi Odinson in payment of a wager with Havelock of Amber

In years of yore | when Ymir came
No sand nor sea | nor winds there were;
Earth was not yet, | nor stars above;

Ginnung-Gap was | but grass nowhere.

I recall yet | Jötnar of yore
With bread I broke | in days gone by;
Nine worlds I knew, | about the Tree
With mighty roots | beneath the mould.

When Ymir came | to Ginnung-Gap
then came Jötnar | the nine worlds thence;
Tall warriors | with mighty thews,
And cunning men | of subtle minds.

The Jötnar called | from Ginnung-Gap
Craven spirits | their slaves to be;
And wrought they then | of subtle spells
That thorn of stone, | Thelbane sturdy.

Then one Jötunn | of fulsome fame
Above the rest | he rose to rule;
And long he reigned, | wise and cruel;
King in Yellow, | of Chaos Thane.

Long aeons passed | and passed the King
with help of friends, | and yet more friends
Made still more kings | and helped kings pass;
And all was flux, | and nothing changed.

But came the day | a traitor turned,
Dworkin his name, | who stole the Eye;
Fled away with | son Oberon
Beyond Ygg, far, | they turned at bay.

Stood not alone| the traitors, proud;
The Álfar came, | full fierce they fought;
White Unicorn, | her horn bedewed
In ichor black | from Ymir’s flank.

While Dworkin scribed | with stolen Eye,
Fought Álfar, Horn | and Oberon,
The Chaos horde | they held at bay;
And Dworkin wrought | the Power-Shape!

The Power-Shape | on Chaos played;
Like Loki burned | the hapless horde.
The less brave fled | to Ginnung-Gap;
To hoard their hate | for all of Time.

And kings still pass | in Ginnung-Gap;
Amber also | knows Ragnarök.