"h, Signar, you have come at last,
My wait has not been very long.
There's much to say, for much has passed,
You'll soon recount in mourning song."

Brave Signar asked with creeping fear,
As shock gave way to sinking gloom,
"And who invited you in here?
How come you to this little room?"

The guest replied with wizened care,
"That's not the question nagging you,"
Then, leaning forward in his chair,
"You'd rather ask another. True?"

The one-eyed man returned, in kind,
The stare that Signar mutely pressed.
Confused dismay took Signar's mind,
But calm was in the hosting guest.

As though entranced by magic's spell,
The boy responded pleadingly,
"Please tell me, is my mother well?
I long to see her. Where is she?"

"You came on time, you've come too late.
Your mother left this world before.
And now, to you, I must relate,
Just how she passed through Folkvang's door:

"She'd stored up rations, as you know,
To last for, fully, two years' time.
She had no worries like the does,
When Skadi brought her frigid clime.

"The winter, though, was harsh and drear,
Such that the grass was all defiled.
It fell so hard, it killed the deer,
Remaining on this lonely isle.

"No need had she for salting these,
Though she could never brave the cold.
Her needs fulfilled, her mind at ease,
She knew not what would yet unfold.

"The year passed by and winter came,
With no repeat of last year's shock.
The skies were often filled with rain,
So warm it stayed upon this rock.

"It seemed the sky would bring no harm,
And mildness seemed keen to stay.
But she did not count on the storm,
That blew in on one fateful day.

"The rain came down, as oft it did,
That winter, here, upon these shores.
For, also, death came down amid,
The drops that fell outside her door.

"Upon the morn, poor Grimhild went,
For food cached in an outer house.
'Twas then she found, to her lament,
The roof had leaked, her stores were doused.

"The food was fouled ere long had passed,
But hope was not yet out of reach.
For, soon thereafter, Njord had cast,
A mighty whale upon the beach.

"The namesake of the giantess,
Jarnsaxa, carved the massive beast.
Delivered from their sore distress,
Their hunger pains were fin'lly ceased.

"Soon afterwards, Jarnsaxa found,
Another whale had landed there.
It seemed that fortune knew no bound!
But fortune had prepared a snare.

"When Grimhild set herself to eat,
Her innards felt a vicious pain.
The second whale was rancid meat.
Disease snuffed Grimhild's living flame.

"Jarnsaxa helped her in her strife,
But knew that nothing could be done.
'Twas three full days she fought for life.
Some battles, though, cannot be won.

"The solstice set as Grimhild died.
Jarnsaxa built her mistress' pyre.
In grief for her, the Aesir cried,
And Thor, himself, lit Grimhild's fire.

"Behind this house, not far from here,
You'll find the cairn erected for,
The mother that you still hold dear.
Go see her ere you leave these shores."

Poor Signar left his little home,
And went to where his mother lay,
He found the heaping, rocky dome,
Above a tranquil, inland bay.

He looked upon the mound of stone,
And rued the promise so well kept,
If only, only, he had known!
Bold Signar kneeled and sorely wept.