Thryms Poem

[JWagner]

The Thunder God laid fast asleep
Through winter’s icy, silent creep
But when he stretched and woke anew,
The children cheered, the flowers grew

With springtime sun and gentle rain,
The world would bloom and dance again
Yet once, while Thor slept in his room
A tale unfolded with some gloom

A giant crept with stealthy tread
And saw the hammer near Thor’s bed
He snatched it up and slipped away
And Thor awoke in wild dismay!

Then Loki flew to Giantland
Where Thrym was laughing, bold and grand:
“Bring Freya here, the lovely bride,
Then thunder may again collide!”

But Freya must not leave her place
Spring needs her warmth, her gentle grace
The gods devised a clever scheme,
Though Thor found it a dreadful dream

They dressed him as a sturdy maid
And off to Thrym’s domain they made
The giant grinned with lustful glee
To wed his bride, his she will be!

But veiled she stayed, and first they dined
An ox, some fish, all quickly mined
Three casks of wine she drank alone
The doubting giant went to groan

“She fasted long,” said Loki sly,
“To please you, lord, and catch your eye!”
Thrymr reached to lift the veil,
To steal a kiss, this lusty male

But leapt up high with sudden fright
And stormed the hall complaining right
“What dreadful eyes this Freyja shows!
But Loki brought him to repose

“For eight long nights she did not sleep,
Her longing ran so dark and deep"
Thrymr beamed with pride, “Then bring the prize
The hammer, now! Let joy arise!”

They placed it in her silken lap
But Thor sprang up from bridal trap!
He hurled it hard with wrathful might
It struck Thrym’s brow - a deadly smite

He fell, and lightning split the skies
The gods rejoiced with gleaming eyes
The spring rain startet once again
Relief gripped fields and woods and men

The mortals laughed behind his track
The ruse had worked, the hammer is back
The goddess is saved, the spring can come
The birds will sing, the bees can hum

[JWagner]

Þrymskviða is one of the best known Sagas from the Poetic Edda, in which the giant Thrymr stoles Thor's hammer Mjölnir and wants the goddess Freyja in return. Here the poem is presented as a ballad, also sung: https://youtu.be/8I_N6ciRO_o