I am Aegir, Lord God of the Sea,
Husband of Ran, goddess of storms.
I have dominion over all the oceans
And all the waters of the Earth.
My nine daughters move the waves
At my behest. The winds of the world
Blow as I command, gale force nine
To hurricane or gentle breeze
According to my whim. Within its walls
On the ocean bed my great hall holds
All the treasures of the seas, garnered
From every sunken ship or wreck
That ever was or ever yet will be.
Gold, silver, shell of abalone, mother-of-pearl,
Jewels, chalices, drinking cups and porcelain,
Fine wines and honeyed mead
All stored within its glimmering walls.
Come taste my fabled hospitality,
I brew the finest ale that ever foamed
On land or in the sea. Come feast, eat, drink
And merry be, enjoy my hospitality,
Let your ears ring with the siren songs
Of the seals and whales and be beguiled
By the mermaids’ tales of the watery world
And the enchantment of Atlantis.
I’m a moody god at the best of times
And I like to see my kingdom filled with people.
At the least excuse my good spouse, Ran,
Will whip up a storm and the girls will call
Up a giant wave to founder and swamp
The soundest ship afloat. Then Ran and I
Will powerfully swim with our magic nets,
By Loki blessed, to gather in drowned men
With which to fill my kingdom’s caverns,
Under the sea, yet I’ll have you know
That in my wide hall on the ocean’s bed
Below, there’s always room for more.
Pete Crowther
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/aegir-norse-god-of-the-sea/
