Urðarbrunnr

I cannot believe 

that feeling joy

should be forbidden 

maybe the uses 

we put it to

may be corrupted 

but the water 

you have carried to me

from the well Urðarbrunnr

cleanses the great tree

and even the white mud

surrounding it is holy.

All we can do is try

to please the gods 

and be worthy of our enemies.

Know that the three well-maidens

have already chosen our fate 

so we may choose to submit

or to battle our hearts 

and rage against the path

that was given to us.

Destiny twines us now

like suckers feeding from the rose

and we may writhe 

but not escape 

like Níðhöggr we are bound

to our place 

but still from where we are 

set in the dangerous garden

our arms may reach 

and our hands may 

clasp together.

May our alliance 

our friendship 

be a shield against darkness.

"The Norns" (1901) by Karl Ehrenberg.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur%C3%B0arbrunnr#/media/File:The_Norns_by_H._L._M.jpg