The Challenge of Thor

The Musician's Tale
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The Saga of King Olaf
1.
The Challenge of Thor

I am the God Thor,
I am the War God,
I am the Thunderer !
Here in my Northland,
My fastness and fortress,
Reign I forever !

Here amid icebergs
Rule I the nations;
This is my hammer,
Miolner the mighty;
Giants and sorcerers
Cannot withstand it !

These are the gauntlets
Wherewith I wield it,
And hurl it afar off;
This is my girdle;
Whenever I brace it,
Strength is redoubled !

The light thou beholdest
Stream through the heavens,
In flashes of crimson,
Is but my red beard
Blown by the night - wind,
Affrighting the nations !

Jove is my brother;
Mine eyes are the lightning;
The wheels of my chariot
Roll in the thunder,
The blows of my hammer
Ring in the earthquake !

Force rules the world still,
Has ruled it, shall rule it;
Meekness is weakness,
Strength is triumphant,
Over the whole earth
Still is it Thor's - Day ! 

Thou art a God too,
 O Galilean !

And thus single - handed
Unto the combat,
Gauntlet or Gospel,
Here I defy thee !

This great poem was written in 1863 by Longfellow after reading Heimskringla. The Red Thor challenging the White Christ, does it get any better than that. And yes Thor, you are absolutely correct when you say " Still is it  Thor's - Day", now and forever more !

This version of Longfellow's poem comes from the book, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Poems and other writings, published by and copyrighted 2000 by Literary Classics of the United States, Inc., New York, N.Y. ISBN- I-88301185 - X.     

Glenn Bergen

Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love and Thor's protection !