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aelfhild-astraedottir · 3 months

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Winter’s Indecision

by Ælfhild Astrædottir

Winter waxes and wanes

With all the strength of the moon’s change

With all the whims of the vagrant wind,

One day the clouds yield snow for hours on end

Conglomerate crystal formations

Falling from the sky

Before the deep freeze sets in,

Then for a week all is cold and still

The water frozen where it once pooled and flowed

The songbirds fluff themselves into spheres

That flit quickly from one seed bearing branch to the next,

The snow transforms the forest

Into another world

Where delicate pillars of hoarfrost hold up the topsoil

Where the cold turns every breath into mist

Where normal sounds fade into stillness,

It is a beautiful world

Glittering with rainbow sparkles from the snow

Adorned with gleaming ice, clear crystals rampant

It is a harsh world

The cold highlights how fragile our lives are

Dependent on liquid water, for which we now toil

It is a fleeting world

A week later and temperatures rise

The Pacific Northwest winter rains return

The snow and ice melt

Disappearing when you look away

One last trick by Winter’s water magic,

Temperatures rise and rise

Sweaters and even long sleeved shirts are cast aside

Flower buds expand, colors peeking out

As if Spring itself is upon us

And then it cools again

Down, down

The warm rain and mud turning to cold

Woodstoves are once more unburied

Sweaters layered, blankets piled higher

Because here in the mild weathered Pacific Northwest

Here where weather is moderated by the Salish Sea

We are at the mercy of an indecisive Winter

Snapping to cast a cold spell one week

And inviting Spring over for tea the next.

This poem was inspired by the winter weather I have been experiencing this year.

#Ælfhild Astrædottir #tumblr poets #tumblr authors #poetry #original poetry #nature poetry #winter poetry #winter #winter weather #snow #ice #rain #mud #pacific northwest

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 4 months

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Winter Madrone

Here in the heart of a mild gray winter

When the lingering night

Haunts us from the louring gray clouds

There is color yet,

More tangible than the hues of sunset

Too vivacious for sepia

Russet to umber through amber, the hues brighten

Cinnamon with a hint of chartreuse,

A sinuous beauty posing on sea cliffs

Evergreen leaves borne aloft

On boughs that dally with the sea winds

Smooth boughs of the madrone.

Poem © Ælfhild Astrædottir 2024

Photograph © Ælfhild Astrædottir 2023

#Ælfhild Astrædottir #original poetry #poetry #tumblr poets #tumblr authors #original photography #photography #winter #winter poetry #madrone #tree poetry #madrone poetry #madrone photography #tree photography

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 4 months

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Thora and Sleipnir's Sleigh: Part 12

by Ælfhild Astrædottir

Part 1 conveniently linked: here!

New Year's Eve in the Yule Father's Village

At the end of the calendar

When the dark polar night reigns yet

The Yule Father's Village bustles

And hustles with their second wind

It is New Year's Eve at last

Let the partying now commence!

Effervescent mead bubbling

Nuts popping around the campfires.

Garlands of cranberries crimson

Ribbons twined through hair and rack

Reindeer line dance patterns in snow

Elves cartwheel over furry backs

Foxes caper holding sparklers

Fireworks invite the sky to play

Thora is festooned with lights

Before streaking through the crisp air.

And that's a wrap for my Yuletide story this year: I hope you all enjoyed this festive poetry experiment of mine!

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 4 months

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Thora and Sleipnir's Sleigh: Part 11

by Ælfhild Astrædottir

Part 1: here!

Part 12: here!

Thora and the Midnight Sun

Around the world Thora roamed

Always returning to her home

To spend long hours with the Sleigh herd

Snacking on lichens and berries

By the lingering gold sunlight

That paints tundra and forest green

Fragrant flowers and buzzing bees

In the months long summer day.

#Ælfhild Astrædottir #poetry #original poetry #Yuletide #12 days #reindeer #norse mythology #sleipnir #summer #Arctic summer #midnight sun #tumblr poets #advent poetry #tumblr authors #december poetry #yule #merry christmas

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 4 months

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Thora and Sleipnir's Sleigh: Part 10

by Ælfhild Astrædottir

Part 1: at this convenient link.

Thora Gives Back

Thora grew into her magic

As the seasons turned over

Until again Yuletide drew nigh

And she returned to the North

This time she joined the Sleigh team

In their escalating races

And took her place as one of eight

In the harness of the Yule Sleigh.

As the Sleigh rose into the air

Carrying the gifts of Yuletide

As Sleipnir's magic gathered

Thora leaned into her team

Heart and soul unfurling in flight

Bolstering the Sleigh’s magic

That generations yet to come

Would find their heart's desire too.

The newest sister of the Sleigh

Wept for joy as her antlers grew

Tears freezing in crystalline drops

That shone like seeds of white starlight

Like promises of brilliance

On the night of wishes fulfilled

When Thora’s magic fueled

Sleipnir's ancient Yuletide gift.

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 4 months

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Dependable Green

Ælfhild Astrædottir

This poem was first published, today, in Salish Magazine, a free online magazine that publishes articles and artwork exploring Salish Sea ecosystems. This is my contribution. I encourage interested parties to follow the link and peruse the rest of the magazine. You can listen to me read my poem on the magazine site. It's my first time being published in a magazine: cheers!

Green is the call sign of summer

When chlorophyll works overtime

Gathering in wavelengths of reds and blues

Spinning those threads of sunshine,

Faithfully fueling the Plant Kingdom

(And dowager queen cyanobacteria besides)

From darling Mnium spinulosum moss

To gracefully sweeping hemlocks where they abide,

In summer the forests are painted with a thousand shades

Of vivacious, variegated, verdure

From sun touched madrone leaves

To shadowed webs of twinflower,

Then comes autumn the season of change

The deciduous leaves layoff their chlorophyll

Indulging in bright yellows and bold reds

Before they too are cast off and still,

Oh, but those stalwart evergreens

They hold tight to their chlorophyll yet

They weather autumn storms with their leaves intact

Sheltering their animal neighbors from the wet,

Then comes winter and the forests fill with skeletons

Tangled thickets of bare shrubs and barer trees

Ah, but the evergreens fill in their spaces

Vibrant life of red cedar and pacific rhodys,

When the deer are scrounging for tidbits

When the songbirds need a break from the cold

When the underground is limping by on reserves

Evergreen offerings are more precious than gold,

All winter the conifers tall and proud

Stand guard on our bluffs, our hills and our vales

A mosaic of malachite holding together our forests

Buffering all from the fiercest winter gales,

Then comes spring and the sweet sap rises

Buds unfurl tender leaves and pollen fills the air

And amidst all this new life and color

The valiant evergreens are still green and still there.

#Ælfhild Astrædottir #poetry #original poetry #evergreens #Salish Magazine #Salish Sea #conifers #pnw #pnw poetry #pacific northwest #forests #coastal ecosystems #tumblr poets #tumblr authors #magazine #first magazine contribution #yay

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 4 months

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Thora and Sleipnir's Sleigh: Part 9

by Ælfhild Astrædottir

Part 1: available at this convenient link.

Thora and Penguins

With Thora now skilled in flight

She traveled around the globe

All the way to Antarctica

Where she met a curious bird

It flew not in air but water

And slid belly down on the ice

Pillars of black and white feathers

Absurdity and warm cuddles.

#Ælfhild Astrædottir #poetry #original poetry #Yuletide #12 days #reindeer #norse mythology #sleipnir #winter poetry #tumblr poets #penguins #tumblr authors #flying #world travel #Antarctica

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 4 months

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Thora and Sleipnir's Sleigh: Part 8

by Ælfhild Astrædottir

Part 1: available at this convenient link.

Sleipnir's Visit

In time Sleipnir visited them

In the Yule Father's Village

Delighted by cute young Thora

His cherished great granddaughter

Sleipnir taught her of their magics

Sixteen hooves pounded the tundra

Two hearts, two minds, focusing til

Up above the tundra they flew.

Now that the main story arc is complete I may fill in the last of my twelve days story with drabbles like this one: we shall see.

#Ælfhild Astrædottir #poetry #original poetry #Yuletide #12 days #reindeer #norse mythology #sleipnir #magic #tumblr authors #winter poetry #tumblr poets #flying

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 4 months

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Thora and Sleipnir's Sleigh: Part 7

by Ælfhild Astrædottir

For part 1: follow this convenient link

Yule Day in the Yule Father's Village

The sun that rose in far off lands

Stirred not the Yule Father’s folk

Who slept the sleep of contentment

Their year’s work done and done well

The Sleigh team and the Yule Father

Slept soundest of all in the dark

Grateful for the long polar night

That grants ease of dreaming and rest.

Joy followed Thora into dreams

As she relaxed to her bones

Reveling in the wondrous peace

Of comfort in her own body

Dozing in the way of her folk

Until the gathering bell rang

And the village by ones and twos

Began their Yule Celebration.

Twas a laid back affair Yule Day

Comfort was the byword for all

The Sleigh’s barn held the party

On the floor relieved of gifts

Soft multicolored lights were lit

A baking oven kept it warm

Everywhere were cushions and quilts

And bowls of sweet water and mead.

Presents were exchanged with love

Material gifts of textiles

Spiritual gifts of song and poem

All treasured by the Yule folk

Sweet rolls came out of the oven

To be dipped in berry jam

Exotic nuts were toasted hot

Their shells used in mancala games.

Merrily Yule Day lingered

As warm clouds blocked the moon light

Naps were taken and songs were sung

As the whole village settled in

For their annual sleepover

Within the gleam of the Yule Sleigh

A joyous time of love and warmth

Brought together by Sleipnir’s gift.

#Ælfhild Astrædottir #poetry #original poetry #12 days #reindeer #norse mythology #sleipnir #community #winter solstice #cozy #Yule #tumblr poets #tumblr authors #yuletide

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 4 months

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Thora and Sleipnir's Sleigh: Part 6

by Ælfhild Astrædottir

If you follow this link: Part 1 awaits!

Yule Eve

Soon Yule Eve itself arrived

The last bundles were stowed away

With rope and net to hold them fast

All was secured in the Sleigh

The aunts were groomed and gleaming

Their nails polished or painted bright

Muscles well fueled by lichens

And hydrating hot cocoa sweet.

The village gathered to watch

As the Sleigh team prepared for launch

The Yule Father himself took care

To fasten their harnesses snug

For comfort and security

Were critical to the mission

No jingle bell may chafe nor snag

No buckle snap or come undone.

While the aunts lined up outside

Row by row at the tundra’s edge

Inside the barn the Sleigh still sat

Awaiting the spark of Yule Eve

Then she came with eyes bright with joy

Thora daughter of Hege wise

Ringing a silver bell so pure

She catalyzed Yule Magic.

An old elf matriarch smiled

Offering pale nimble fingers

She buckled the silver buckles

And opened the barn door wide

Eight hooves strong with youth gripped tight

Eight legs strained against physics

Static friction began to fail

As Thora pulled the Yule Sleigh.

First centimeters one by one

With youthful determination

Energies rising within her

Lights sparking in her ancient blood

And then the Sleigh began to slide

As step by step she drew it on

Leaving the safe and cozy barn

For the cold and vibrant beyond.

Thora drew the sleigh through the village

Emptied by the tundra party

The old elf perched on the Sleigh

The only audience she had

Maiden and Crone leading Magic

Into another Yule Eve Night

And as Thora grew confident

Old energies began to stir.

Through the noble northernmost trees

Thora pulled the Sleigh safely

As the Magic began to spark

Coloured lights dancing about them

They drew within sight of their folk

Under a clear star dazzled sky

Thora drew her neck straight and proud

And felt her antlers branch anew.

Wrapped in aurora bright greens

And ribbons of gay violet light

From her tall, shining new antlers

To her eight sets of polished hooves

She dazzled them all with her fire

Proudly delivering the Sleigh

Which had granted her truest wish

While she honored Yule Magic.

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 4 months

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Thora and Sleipnir's Sleigh: Part 5

by Ælfhild Astrædottir

To read part 1 follow this link: down my blog's rabbit hole!

The Yule Father's Village

The count down to Yule continued

Thora met all the villagers

There were her eight sleigh pulling aunts

And other aunts and uncles too

Who had pulled the sleigh before

Who chose to stay in the village

There were elves who maintained the sleigh

Who sang with the voice of the stars.

There was too a fox clan

Who smelled wishes on the wind

All within Yule Father's village

Were inspired by Yule spirit

All played their parts for Yule Tide

The Yule Father's workshop sent gifts

Which were carefully packed tight

Into the bright, gleaming, Yule Sleigh.

Busy villagers took the time

To involve Thora in their work

To show her how they carve wood blocks

To ask her to deliver sleds

Which she set to with willing heart

And eight strong legs growing stronger

As she proudly pulled the sleds

Across the village back and forth.

#Ælfhild Astrædottir #poetry #original poetry #Yuletide #12 days #reindeer #norse mythology #sleipnir #self discovery #community #village #sleds #Yule preparations #elves #foxes #found family #winter poetry

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 4 months

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Thora and Sleipnir's Sleigh: Part 4

by Ælfhild Astrædottir

Part 1: Follow this convenient link!

Aunt Aurora's Tale

Deep in the polar night they were

Elven allies lit fires and lanterns

Thora’s eight aunts raced each other

Across the vast Arctic tundra

In preparation for Yule Night

And the cross-globe race against time

Then in the evening they gathered

To make merry and tell tales.

Thora’s Aunt Aurora began

Primly placing her painted hooves:

“I remember the lonely days

Of my gangly adolescence

Roaming the tundra far and wide

In search of something I knew not

Until adrift one polar night

I tipped back my head and cried.”

“Wailing to the fathomless sky

Tears welling in my harried eyes

I saw dancing lights blur and clear

As awe blinked away my tears

The Aurora Borealis

Remade the sky in new colours

Sparking my own epiphany

I yearned to repaint myself.

“To hold my head high with antlers

When the aurora dances bright

To carry a calf of my own

Safely through the fierce polar night

To race the tundra together

With a merry band of sisters

United by a common love

For beauty and freedom akin.

“Twas in that same long polar night

That noble Sleipnir appeared

To tell me of the Yuletide sleigh

Which he had pulled many years

Imbuing it with his magic

With the gifts of the shapechangers

That now others who pulled the sleigh

Might realize their truest form.

“No longer aimless I now ran

Across the tundra arrow straight

To the village of the Yule Sleigh

And the promise of Sleipnir’s gift

Twas there I found my heart’s desire

First sisters to race the tundra

Then on Yule Eve I took my place

As one of eight before the sleigh.

“Across the skies of Earth we ran

Racing against the turn of time

Delivering joy, hope and light

Harnessed with Sleipnir’s magic

I realized my truest self

Aurora streaming through my antlers.”

Aunt Aurora finished her tale

Eyes gleaming with nostalgic tears.

#Ælfhild Astrædottir #poetry #original poetry #Yuletide #12 days #reindeer #norse mythology #sleipnir #self discovery #MtF trans #lgbtq #lgbtq+#aurora #magic

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 4 months

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Thora and Sleipnir's Sleigh: Part 3

by Ælfhild Astrædottir

Part 1: Link here!

The Confusion

Content Warning (CW): mild gender dysphoria in reindeer

In the last forest to the north

Lanterns shone with welcoming light

Beckoning mother and daughter

Into a polar oasis

Where a welcoming reindeer herd

Ushered the pair into the hall

Of the proud reindeer of the north

Who work with the kind Yule Father.

Hege introduced her daughter

Thora looked about with awe

At her eight magnificent aunts

With their bright magnificent racks

Clicking antlers as they jostle

To coo over their darling niece

Plying her with prized lichens

Spoiling her with imported fruit.

Soon Thora’s observations keen

Led her to question facts of life

Why was her head bare of antlers

When those around her still held fast

Why does her body feel so wrong

Without the weight upon her head

Without the antlers in the snow

Holding at bay the winter sky?

“Tell me, mother, aunts, tell me why?”

The anguished young girl, woeful, cried

“Like the flowers of the tundra

Like the leaves of aspen and birch

So too do we change with seasons

Antlers rising and then falling

As where saxifrage blooms early

And poppies late, we too differ.”

“The Y chromosome drops early

While double X keeps them later

But we who inhabit bodies

That do not match our truest selves

Can choose the nature of our change

Even unto our DNA

When we fly within Yuletide skies

Within the magic of the Sleigh.”

Thora knew then her future shape

Thought that her mother had known too

Before they had set off northward

Before Thora knew her own self

And that night she nuzzled in close

And whispered sincere gratitude

To fuzzy ears that twitched fond

And wrapped her up warm in love.

#Ælfhild Astrædottir #poetry #original poetry #Yuletide #12 days #reindeer #norse mythology #sleipnir #north wind #lgbtq+#lgbtq #mtf trans

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 4 months

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Thora and Sleipnir's Sleigh: Part 2

by Ælfhild Astrædottir

Part 1 Here: Follow this convenient link!

The Naming

By light of moon and stars alone

Mother and child traveled northward

Twelve hooves left prints in blank white snow

Mother’s polished four and child’s eight

Long they walked and long pondered

Of life, of meaning, and of names

The young one long questioned mother

Seeking to know names’ meanings.

Polaris rose to sky’s zenith

As the twain neared journey’s end

The young one came to know own self

Young one started to find own truth

Upon bounding from rock to rock

Upon leaping from log to log

Whilst the thunder cracked and rumbled

The young one cast aside mere form.

Planting all eight hooves on the ice

The young one proclaimed to the world

“I am Thora, daughter of Hege!

“Great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great

Grandchild of the noble Sleipnir!

Northwind witness my chosen name!”

And the northwind did so witness

And dry Hege’s salt tears of pride.

#Ælfhild Astrædottir #poetry #original poetry #Yuletide #12 days #reindeer #norse mythology #sleipnir #north wind #self discovery

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 4 months

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Thora and Sleipnir's Sleigh: Part 1

by Ælfhild Astrædottir

The Beginning

Ribbons of light streaming northward

Joyously light up the night sky

In celebration of new life

A new descendant of Sleipnir

Wobbles on eight spindly young legs

Dark fur fluffed by mother’s love

Eyes turn to the welcoming skies

Yearning unfurls in the young heart.

For moons the young one grew stronger

Untangling legs by twos and fours

Mastering the fall and the rise

Under mother's patient guidance

Until came the time of learning

Beyond mother's circle of care

The forest learning group at last

The young one would soon come to dare.

The day of learning dawned bright

Mother's proud eyes saw young one off

But on the forest path did meet

The young one with a father's fear

“Four legs only need a reindeer

I demand thee bind thy others”

Commanded the young one's father

Then cloaked youth in worn blanket.

Into the learning grove limped

The young one, eyes downcast in shame

Met with mockery for the cloak

Whilst tales of olden yore were told

Then when the cloak was torn away

The youngsters were then fear stricken

Of Odin's wrath their teachers spoke

Repentant were the foolish youth.

Whilst children learned to see true

The worth of spirit not dressing

The value of apologies

Given and also accepted

To conference were parents bade

By teachers just and dismayed

Before the young one’s very eyes

Mother kicked father to the skies.

The children cheered and stamped

While mother buffed her hooves clean

And when ended learning season

Sad partings there were had by all

As mother and child together

Journeyed North to mother's family

In the fine reindeer settlement

Within the Yule Father's village.

Welcome to my 2023 Yuletide story which I intend to complete over the course of twelve days centered on the Winter Solstice. It is an experimental format for me so we shall see how it comes out. Joyous Yuletide!

Part 12: see part 11 because I've reached link capacity in this post.

#Ælfhild Astrædottir #poetry #original poetry #Yuletide #12 days #reindeer #norse mythology #sleipnir #december poetry #winter poetry #tumblr poets #tumblr authors #advent poetry

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 5 months

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Warm the fire that fills the home

With languid tree born heat,

Soothing the purr of the contented cat

Ensconced upon her shelf,

Delightful the multicolored lights

That line the beams,

Cozy the home in winter time

That summer's long days enabled.

#Ælfhild Astrædottir #original poetry #poetry #tumblr poets #december poetry #advent poetry #winter #winter poetry #wood stove #cat #lights

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aelfhild-astraedottir · 5 months

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Boldly the wind blows

Ruffling up the sea

Stiffening the air

That the eagle and gull may soar,

Boldly the sea rolls

Crashing onto the shore

Stirring up the beach

That all be sanded smooth by summer,

Boldly the kite surfers go

Betwixt wind and sea

Harnessing them both

To taste the exhilaration of flight.

#Ælfhild Astrædottir #original poetry #poetry #tumblr poets #december poetry #advent poetry #winter #winter poetry #kite surfing #windy day

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