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 Old [English language|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.

Old English

Beorc bẏþ bleda leas, bereþ efne sƿa ðeah

tanas butan tudder, biþ on telgum ƿlitig,

heah on helme hrẏsted fægere,

geloden leafum, lẏfte 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.