Slow Havamal: 72

[kylec]

The 72nd verse states that it’s better to have a son. Even if he’s born when you’re old, or after you’ve died, that’s preferable to no son. Rare are the memorials raised along the road for those who are childless.

In Norse culture, male offspring were more valuable and more capable of honoring their parents, but I think we can generalize in our own society to any child, son or daughter, as both are equally capable of caring for the parents and remembering them when they’re gone. The best time to have a child in terms of biology and of getting to appreciate future generations is in youth. Havamal says that if that isn’t possible, even a child in your later years, or one conceived just before your death, is preferable to having no heirs.

Obviously an heir can see that your hard work remains in the family, but there are other benefits. If they’re old enough, they can care for you as life draws to an end, bury you with dignity, and see that you’re properly remembered. I imagine that having no grave was a more frightful thing in the 9th century than in ours. A man’s reputation seems to have remained important long after his death. A late joy, even one just missed, is better than none at all.

We can also look at children as a metaphor for our acts of generation. When is it best to take up drawing, or writing? When should you learn some craft, or devote yourself to your faith? As soon as possible. A lifetime of creative passion is better, but if you’ve wasted most of a lifetime, it’s better to have a little than miss out entirely. A work that brings us reputation, money, and fulfillment with time to enjoy it sounds divine. But the work itself is a beautiful thing, worth pursuing in its own right. Not every son brings glory to his father, but there are good things besides glory.

Our works may outlive us. A late effort goes on to benefit future generations, whether or not they came from your loins. There’s no shortage of geniuses whose art wasn’t appreciated until after their time. Some passed in obscurity, or ignominy; some were tormented by their peers, or gave in to their own torments. Yet we love their works no less, and they inspire future generations, in the same way that your descendants will go on to live their own lives, and marry and reproduce with many other families through the centuries.

We saw in recent verses how those with a lame hand, bad eyes, a limp, can still contribute something. This verse differs in that the disability is age and the waning creative powers. It may be too late to join the ranks of the great, at least in this lifetime, but that’s no excuse for idleness. Your son may not go on to be governor, a football star, or a titan of industry. But he can make an honest living, and provide enough for those who need him. Your daughter can speak in modest tones of her parents, while holding the grandchild they never met. There’s much good to be given to the world from our acts of generation, and however many opportunities we’ve missed, while we breathe, there’s time yet.