Mythology & Folklore

The Saga of King Olaf I: The Challenge of Thor

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1807–1882

From Tales of a Wayside Inn (1863-1873)

Mythology & Folklore

I am the God Thor,
I am the War God,
I am the Thunderer!
Here in my Northland,
My fastness and fortress,
Reign I forever!

Here amid icebergs
Rule I the nations;
This is my hammer,
Miölner the mighty;
Giants and sorcerers
Cannot withstand it!

These are the gauntlets
Wherewith I wield it,
And hurl it afar off;
This is my girdle;
Whenever I brace it,
Strength is redoubled!

The light thou beholdest
Stream through the heavens,
In flashes of crimson,
Is but my red beard
Blown by the night-wind,
Affrighting the nations!

Jove is my brother;
Mine eyes are the lightning;
The wheels of my chariot
Roll in the thunder,
The blows of my hammer
Ring in the earthquake!

Force rules the world still,
Has ruled it, shall rule it;
Meekness is weakness,
Strength is triumphant,
Over the whole earth
Still is it Thor’s-Day!

Thou art a God too,
O Galilean!
And thus single-handed
Unto the combat,
Gauntlet or Gospel,
Here I defy thee!

MLA

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. “The Saga of King Olaf I: The Challenge of Thor.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/longfellow/237/.

Chicago

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. “The Saga of King Olaf I: The Challenge of Thor.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/longfellow/237/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow