Product Code Database
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 . In the Anglo-Saxon rune poem it is called beorc ("birch" or "Populus"). The corresponding Gothic alphabet is 𐌱 b, named bairkan.
The letter shape is likely directly based on Old Italic 𐌁, whence comes also the Latin letter B.
The rune is recorded in all three rune poems:
| Rune Poem:Original poems and translation from the Rune Poem Page . | 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. |
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