Ingusflokkr
by MissKat - April 3rd, 2010Ingusflokkr, or, a flock of verses about one instance where Ingus found himself in trouble
Story told of Storm-god [Thor]
Strong one, Thor, with hammer
Might is splayed through Midgaard
Marked by sky-tear blazing [lightning]
Ire, raised by Ingus,
Arm band breaker, song-oak [generous man, skilled bard]
Thor’s thunder was rivaled
Throat of bard set challenge
Long the bardic lineage
Lad in north was raised in
Matriarch Morgana
Mead of Odin drinker [extremely gifted skald]
Wyndreth, white-haired spear-elm [woman spear warrior]
Wise, yet savage daughter
Finest bards she fostered,
Furthest known was Ingus
Skaldheim’s shields did shelter
Shining voice of Ingus.
Forest formed by mouth-shrub [beard]
Foul beasts slain within it.
Tall as oak-bough towering,
Truthful heather giver [generous man]
Northking noted talent
Named him knowledge teacher [Laurel]
To Siege of Cecil Hagan
Mead-smith Ingus traveled [skilled bard]
Wringing rain from skull-snow [hair]
Running swift to shelter
Fire warmed the warriors
Warned off chill of evening
Same chill sank ‘neath breast plate
Song lit spear-home fire [chest]
Skywheel sank as Ingus [sun]
Sipped of mead of Odin [skald]
Standing, stalwart giant
Stark contrast to nightfall
Keened his pride in kingdom,
Kinsmen, shields and starlight
Storm still rolled through rain-soaked
Ranks. Ingus kept singing.
Roused by reeling chorus,
Wrathful giant killer [Thor]
Woke to woe in forehead [major headache]
Wary ear heard singing.
Baldur’s brother ached for [Thor]
Brawl to stop in helm-place [headache]
Seeking silence, Thor took
Serpent-killer, Mjollnir. [Mjollnir (Meeohl-ner)]
Famous sapling feller [Thor]
Found then cause of headache:
Ingus, sweetly sounding
Swore did Thor to silence.
Land-wolf rolled through raiment [strong wind]
Raising heads in awe. Then
Ingus, heard by hunters,
Howled all the louder.
Back and forth they battled
Besting one another
Thunder thrown from cloud-home [sky]
Thor’s best skills were tested
by Ingus, Son of Skaldheim
Snorri’s might was wielding [skilled skald]
Flowed through veins of foster
Fuel of Thor’s own making.
One last challenge issued:
Ingus called out skillful
Kennings, heard through Kingdom
Keeper true of mead-horn. [skilled skald]
Spent, the song-oak rested [strong singer]
Satisfied in victory
Yet Thor, thunder-keeper
Thought war not yet over.
One more volley ventured
Vast the strength it took him
Thor, his right arm raised then
Ringing blow to cloud home [sky]
Lightsnake cracked through keep-hold [lightning]
Securing Thor’s victory.
Ingus, noting action,
acquiesced the battle.
Heard you tale most truthful
Told by fame-skald’s daughter
Passing years do polish
patron’s woven story
Ingus, skald quite skillful
Skeins his yarns in comfort
for Thor, Thunder Bearer
Thinks him now a kinsman.


