I bear my name with a weight
of pawing the moss,
I’m named for my strength
with a blueberried tongue
I’m warrior of honor and light,
cuddly and kind but ferocious at night,
I’m the honey-lipped woodlover
climber of trees, besieger of ants
but I’m sleepy in fall.
I bear my name for the pride
of my namesake
and the wildness of woods.
Amaya hosts at dVerse poetics and wants us to write a poem on our name, my full name is Björn Gunnar Robert, which would mean something like Bear-warrior of honor and light. Not too bad I think, but I focused on the Bear.
—
October 9, 2018
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I think, this has to be, one of my absolute new faves! Wow – this is just so word perfect – and a most excellent exploration of your name! It’s brilliant Bjorn – it really is. And you’ve made such excellent use of “verbing” – stunning, startling, elegant and just so exceptional. A true understanding and depth to knowing “bear”, in all aspects and elements.
Thank you… in Swedish everybody know the meaning of my name…
it’s a powerful name and honestly, you’ve offered us a gem of a poem!
The bear aspect of self really came through. I like how this turned out – can’t wait to try it.
It’s great fun… and my name is so easy to play with.
What is there not to love in this?
Maybe the ferociousness? Never wake a sleeping bear.
I’d never dream of it.
I like this poem about your name. It says a lot about bears and about you.
Thank you.. . it’s a name I like
I like it too. It suits you.
I have a fondness for Scandinavian and Germanic names. How wonderful to be a bear warrior – it reminds me of the bear in Philip Pullmans Northern Lights. I can’t imagine you being fierce, though.
I love the lines:
‘I bear my name with a weight
of pawing the moss’
and
‘I’m warrior of honor and light,
cuddly and kind but ferocious at night’.
I actually like my first name a lot…
Ah, the bear. Is it actually a word in use today? It sounds so tribal. I love this poem, too – it’s like a kenning – which is fitting, considering your heritage – so the poem fits the name fits the animal fits the person.
Oh yes.. Björn means bear… the animal. There is another name “Ulf” meaning Wolf, but here the most common name of the animal is Varg…
like in Lord of the Rings?
Yes… Tolkien used some Scandinavian words… there was warg and there was a Beorn in Bilbo.
I like the texture that somehow rises with the assonance in the phrase “pawing the moss.” To me it hints at curiosity and gentleness all at once. No need to question what your spirit animal is though.
Ha.. no I was named for my spirit animal. though the Norse name for a spirit animal is a Fylgja…
“honey-lipped woodlover” is just one of the endearing (enbearing?) lines of this light-hearted poem.
A wonderful tribute to your name! You did it justice with these warrior words😊
I want to be a warrior of woods.
Ah, you so very well imbibe the spirit of the bear — the different facets of the personality create a wholesome picture of the name and the person it belongs to.
Loved the ending, “I bear my name for the pride/of my namesake/and the wildness of woods,” capturing both the myths and the traditions being carried forth.
And you bear your name well. Loved where you went with this. I especially like this phrase:
“I’m named for my strength
with a blueberried tongue”
It perfectly encapsulates strength and sweetness.
Love the title and meanings incorporated in your lines. Specially admire the ending which speaks of pride: I bear my name for the pride
of my namesake
and the wildness of woods.
You nailed it, brother. In a few lines you enlightened and delighted us, shared personal stuff, and rocked the hell out of the prompt. My name in Swedish is Glenr, a Norse God I think.
Beautifully written poem…I especially like the contrast; “cuddly and kind but ferocious at night”
http://paintswithwords.com/the-gift/
Ooh, this is really good. I especially like that blueberry tongue, and this:
“cuddly and kind but ferocious at night,
I’m the honey-lipped woodlover”
There is something to be said about toning down one’s strength to also be gentle. I think a bear can do that and it suits the “Bjorn” I have come to know in the dVerse. Great strength combined with kindness.
Here is another interpretation…in Native American Ojibway, your name is “Makwa” (pronounced “mukwa”)
Oh, my. “I’m named for my strength
with a blueberried tongue” is fantastic. So much to love here, really. I love your play of words with ‘bear’ as verb.
Absolutely love this Bjorn! You have captured the bear spirit, he is also considered a great healer. I have had many dream visitations from bears.
I can see your poem in a children’s book. I loved it! 🙂
“besieger of ants” I hadn’t thought of it from the ants’ perspective before.
I bear my name with a weight – we should always take names seriously, how cool that yours means bear, a creature both loved and feared, it has magnificent power indeed. you should “bear” it proudly!
kaykuala
I bear my name with a weight
of pawing the moss,
There is already an indication of clever word-craft right from the openers.
Hank
You did a great job weaving this one. The strength of a bear is a great name to live up to!
Wonderful. One of my favorites of yours!
Wonderful write Bjorn! How marvelous to have such a name.
The gentle flow of your wording corresponds to the gentleness of the bear left undisturbed! A wonderful meditation on your name, Bjorn! 🙂
Oh this is good! A cuddly warrior is what we all need! The strength of your name seems to align with your strong character. A bear would do no harm unless threatened.
Is that Teddybear? Loved it!
I liked the concept of bearing your name with a weight, at first I thought of a burden, but then as the very affirming and vivid descriptions came on, I felt more of a connotation of serious respect and joy (blueberry tongued). Super!