Berkanan


Berkanan is the reconstructed Proto-Germanic name of the b rune, meaning "birch". In the Younger Futhark it is called Bjarkan in the Icelandic and Norwegian rune poems. In the Anglo-Saxon rune poem it is called beorc. The corresponding Gothic letter is ? b, named bairkan.
The letter shape is likely directly based on Old Italic ?, whence comes also the Latin letter B.
The rune is recorded in all three rune poems:
Rune Poem:English Translation:

Old Norwegian

Bjarkan er laufgrønstr líma;

Loki bar flærða tíma.

Birch has the greenest leaves of any shrub;

Loki was fortunate in his deceit.

Old Icelandic

Bjarkan er laufgat lim

ok lítit tré

ok ungsamligr viðr.

Birch is a leafy twig

and little tree

and 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;

yet without seed it brings forth suckers,

for it is generated from its leaves.

Splendid are its branches and gloriously adorned

its lofty crown which reaches to the skies.