The Younger Futhark of the Viking Age has only 16 characters – several sounds share a single rune. The images follow the Old Norse rune poems (public domain).
In the Rune Poem. Wealth is a source of discord among kinsmen; the wolf lives in the forest.
In the Rune Poem. Dross comes from bad iron; the reindeer often races over the frozen snow.
In the Rune Poem. The giant causes anguish to women; misfortune makes few men cheerful.
In the Rune Poem. The estuary is the way of most journeys; but a scabbard is of swords.
In the Rune Poem. Riding is said to be the worst thing for horses; Reginn forged the finest sword.
In the Rune Poem. The ulcer is fatal to children; grief makes a man pale.
In the Rune Poem. Hail is the coldest of grain; Christ created the world of old.
In the Rune Poem. Constraint gives scant choice; a naked man is chilled by the frost.
In the Rune Poem. Ice we call the broad bridge; the blind man must be led.
In the Rune Poem. A good harvest is a boon to men; generous was the bountiful Fróði.
In the Rune Poem. The sun is the light of the lands; I bow to the holy decree.
In the Rune Poem. Tyr is the one-handed among the Æsir; often must the smith blow the bellows.
In the Rune Poem. The birch has the greenest leaves of any shrub; Loki had the luck of his deceit.
In the Rune Poem. Man is an augmentation of the earth; great is the talon-span of the hawk.
In the Rune Poem. Water is that which falls from the mountain as a torrent; but gold ornaments are costly things.
In the Rune Poem. The yew is the greenest of trees in winter; it is wont to crackle when it burns.
Freely after the Old Norwegian and Old Icelandic rune poems (public domain). © Glanz & Gravur.