THE HOLMGANG OF THE TWO
(Attempt at “Drápa”)

Translations and Explanations

• Holmgang: a duel fought to the death by free men. It literally translates to “island walk”, and originally the two men would be put on a small island, and only one be allowed to leave.
• drápa: meaning Slaughter, is an elegy for a fallen or commemoration of battle. It usually contains a refrain, but I had a hard enough time finding the kennings for this one so it’ll have to wait for the next… attempt.
• Ravens feed on the dead, be it people or animals, and the “ravens’ harvest” are corpses. He who brings the harvest – the ravens’ feeder – is the killer or warrior.
• Hugin and Munin: Odin’s ravens; Hugin means “thought” and Munin means “memory”. He who nurtures them is the Skald who keeps memories alive and makes us think.
• Flame-farewell: death, more specifically honourable death (Norse leaders and braves were sent off to the next world on funeral pyres, the most important ones were put onboard their ship and sent to sea in a blaze)
• Breaker of Rings: the King or Ruler, it refers to him breaking the golden rings on his arm and using them to reward his followers.
• Blood worm: sword
• Slaughter dew ember: battle axe
• Bragi (Brage): The god of poetry. He is said to have Runes (letters) carved on his tongue
• Bragarfull: Bragi’s drinking cup. It was used when swearing oaths and remembering dead kings and kinsmen. New Kings would drink from it.
• munin’d: means remembered (constructed word)
• The Hooded and Gangleri: Names for Odin, the primary Norse god.
• Ragnarok: The battle to be fought at the end of the world, where braves would ride and fight beside Odin against the Jotun (evil giants that live in the underworld)

The conclusion of this Holmgang is that both the warrior and the poet shall ride with Odin, but none shall be closer than he who is both. They were after all the two most respected trades a man could hold in those times.