Cairns

Snapping bow and stallion lame
Adder, raucous crow;
Wit of slaves and sickly calf
Bear’s play, burning flame
Brother’s killer, rootless tree
Witch’s welcome, wave;
Ebbing tide and bride bed’s talk:
These are never safe
Greybeard spoke to balder fair
Laid out on the bier
Do you know the words he wove
Ere ringhorn’s planks did sear?
A coward thinks she’ll live for ay
If she but shuns the fray
Yet old age shall not grant her peace
Though she has lived the day:
Stand revealed magic falcon
Cast off your feathery veil
I’ll bleed you
I’ll pluck you
I’ll gut you —
I’ll cut off your black-banded tail
(Hávámal & hervarar-saga)