Sköll
Hati
brother wear the coat with thick fur warm enough to keep out the empty chill of space black and bright as the night sky
and sister wear yours of bright gold over your shoulders feel your desire for the light to crack crescendoing down your back
stalk your prey across the stars leaping over them like celestial stepping stones
run to the edge of the horizon keep your head down ears flat be like a whisper in the long grass
howl and strike tear the silver wings of the Moon see Her limping ahead winking out
climb the sun-beam snap your jaws at the Sun’s horses snap their bones with your teeth
when Ragnarök finally
finally comes
take your first bite
make the sky run red blot out the Sun
swallow the Moon whole
This poem is part of my “Field Guide to Norse Mythology” series. It first appeared in Honeyguide Literary Magazine, Issue 2, “Mythical Creatures,” and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.
K. Neufeld Editing 