HYMIR'S LAY

[JWagner]

The gods once paused along their way,
at Aegir’s hall they chose to stay
But when they sought a feast so grand,
no kettle lay at Aegir’s hand

So Thor was chosen for supply
to fetch it from a giant high
To Hymir’s home he took his path,
to face the giant’s will and wrath

They feasted first with full delight
Their stores were emptied there at night
And hunger stirred again at dawn,
their food and mead were wholly gone

So they rowed out to ocean wide
in a boat to fish, but deep inside
Thor targeted his ever foe
to catch the serpent down below

With cunning hand he cast his line,
a bull's head as a bait on twine
And lo! It bit with sudden snap
The sea snake fell into the trap

Then Thor stood firm and pulled it in,
the battle fierce, the stakes were grim
He stamped the boat, his foot broke through,
the waves around like madness flew

The serpent hissed and bared its jaw,
But Thor stood fast without a flaw
He raised his hammer, ready to strike
But Hymir felt a sudden fright

He drew his knife and cut the line
She leapt and dived into the brine
The worldsnake, she is still alive
and we can work and cheer and strive

The heroes rowed ashore again
quite disappointed, those two men
Thor put the cauldron on his back,
smashed Hymir's cup, then took the track

So furthermore the feast took place
at Aegir's hall without disgrace
except one cup broken to pieces
and Hymir's bump, that still not ceases

[JWagner]

Hymir's Song is the North Germanic saga poem Hymiskviða,
which is included in the Poetic Edda and tells of the
Midgard Serpent and the god Thor.
The poem presented as a song with images: https://youtu.be/UZTp_yGINeM