From a Dream Revisited

Poor Hoder! He did not know!
It was just a little dart of mistletoe!

While the Gods hurled weapons and objects galore
Balder, in His vanity let them gather and toss more
Hammer, lance, or stone thrown his way
Amused, as harmless, each fell away

Of all Earth's things, mistletoe alone did not promise
Did not tell Frigga, it would not hurt Balder's loveliness
Poor, blind Hoder, by Loki tricked,
Into Balder's breast, the missile pricked!

Balder was dead--Love and Beauty gone!
Bells began ringing, bells began singing,
As Balder's soul left for the underworld in the morning's dawn.
"No!" cried Frigga, to Her son's body desperately clinging.

Into the darkness, into the depths Sleipner hurled
Nine days and nine nights, Hermod trod the Underworld
Down below--past the iron trees in the land of the dead
Past the lich Modgud and his toll of blood and bread

Past the terrible vigilance of Garm's two-headed hunger ravenous--
To the gates of Elvindor Castle and the Dark Lady's sight
Hermod sought the Lady of half-shadow, half-light
Onward Hermod came and She saw Him cross the moat cavernous.

From the parapets Hel watched, laughing in delight
"All the world must weep, 'ere I free Balder from the Night."

Wrapped in cloak amidst Her dead soldiers--victims of earlier knells
There laughed Loki's daughter at the hero's plight
Trolls scurried forth to do their Mistress' delight;
And all the while there was the paean and the roar of Hel's Bells