
Berkana
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Berkanan is the reconstructed Proto-Germanic name for the b-rune ᛒ, which means "birch." In the Younger Futhark, it is called Bjarkan in both the Icelandic and Norwegian rune poems. In the Anglo-Saxon rune poem, it is called beorc ("birch" or "poplar"). The corresponding Gothic letter is 𐌱 (b), called bairkan.
The letter's form is likely directly derived from the Old Italic B 𐌁, from which the Latin letter B originates.
Rune Poems
The rune is mentioned in all three rune poems:
Old Norwegian: Bjarkan er laufgrønstr líma; Loki bar flærða tíma.
- "The birch has the greenest leaves of all shrubs; Loki had luck with his deception."
Old Icelandic: Bjarkan er laufgat lim ok lítit tré ok ungsamligr viðr.
- "The birch is a leafy branch and a small tree, and a fresh young shrub."
Anglo-Saxon: Beorc byþ bleda leas, bereþ efne sƿa ðeah, tanas butan tudder, biþ on telgum ƿlitig, heah on helme hrysted fægere, geloden leafum, lyfte getenge.
- "The poplar bears no fruit; but without seeds, it brings forth suckers, for it is generated from its leaves. Magnificent are its branches and beautifully adorned its high crown, reaching up to the sky."