nichepoetryandprose

In my studies in history, no topic has engaged me like the use of stone to record our human endeavors.  I have made a small study of the rune stones of Scandinavia, the stelae of Mesoamerica, and the petroglyphs of North America.

The majority of Scandinavian rune stones are found in Sweden (2,900 in Sweden, compared with 300 in Denmark, 50 in Norway and 33 on the Isle of Man). 

These stones are upright or horizontal, frequently taller than two meters and marked by rune carvers with runes and various images.  Rune stones are found scattered across the countryside and are mostly memorials, providing records of family relationships and history, community happenings and property ownership. 

The majority of rune stones were made in the eleventh century, coinciding with the gradual conversion of the people of Scandinavia from pagan beliefs to Christianity.  The transition took years, a merging of doctrine and practice from the two religions.  The majority of rune stones show some religious symbolism, usually a blending of pagan and Christian ideas. 

In the yard of an old church at Sigtuna, Uppland, is a rune stone once part of the Dominican cloister foundation. 

rune stone U379 at Sigtuna churchyard (Source: Ojan, 2009, Wikimedia Commons)

The stone was raised by a guild of merchants to honor one of their members.  The rune stone is carved with a ribbon of runes enclosing a simple pattée cross.  The facimile (below) of the carvings on the rune stone is taken from:

http://www.ludd.luth.se/~frazze/history/mirror/viking_age/runes/nytt/rune_stone_index.shtml

facimile of carvings on rune stone U379

The Dominicans are a Christian Order of mendicant monks founded in the early thirteenth century.  The monks are also called “black friars” because of their black cloaks. 

The chant in the poem below is based on the Order for Compline in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer.

they too were brothers       

(rune stone at the Dominican cloister, Sigtuna) 

~ 

Frisa gildaR letu ræisa stæin Þennsa æftiR Þor [kil, gild] a sinn.

The Frisian guild brothers let raise this stone after Torkel, their guild brother. 

                                                                        – inscription on the rune stone at the cloister

~ 

~

solemn

we, black friars, stride

stone to stone

the measured step

of Compline

~ 

lighten our darkness

protect us

from perils of night

~ 

beside the singular stone

our voices waver

pause on the syllable

explore the octave

and the chant moves on

~ 

relief of a quiet night

perfect end to imperfect day

fearless expectation

of the grave

~ 

they too were brothers

to him, Torkel

we, Frisa, raise

this stone

ribbon of runes

cut by Torbjörn

the cross by his blade

~ 

brighten our darkness

hide us beneath

the shadow of thy wings

~ 

God bless him and keep him

Guđ hialpi and hans

~ 

© Jane Tims 2005

not a rune stone, of course, but a grave marker in a New Brunswick cemetery