The Fly Of Odin

I drank the red death of the forest

It burned like iron it crawled like war

My body shattered into wolves and storms

The sky split - and the drum began

Bones cracked in rhythm - flesh screamed defied

This was no journey - this was sacrifice

I bled from my breath I drowned in my veins

And the forest laughed - she remembered my name

The veil tore open - no color no lie

I fell through the roots of the world tree below

Where wolves guard the secrets the dead only know

The gods carved my soul on the bone of a spear

And whispered: "Walk the shadow - and never know fear"

I hunted my shadow I devoured my name

I tore out my cowardice - set it aflame

The serpent showed teeth the ancestors roared

And death bowed its head like a long-forgotten lord

I spoke to the frost I swallowed the night

I kissed the jaws of the endless fight

And when I stood - crowned in ash and pain -

I was not mortal I was storm and chain

I fell through the roots of the world tree below

Where wolves guard the secrets the dead only know

The gods carved my soul on the bone of a spear

And whispered: "Walk the shadow - and never know fear"

I came back broken - sharpened alive

The trees still whisper The dead still guide

And in my blood - the forest sings:

"You are the hunger You are the wings"