Chooses Dead

8 ‘Gladsheim a fifth is called, there gold-bright Valhall
extends out widely;
there Odin chooses every day
those dead in combat.

9 ‘It’s very easy to recognize for those who come to Odin
to see how his hall’s arranged;
spear-shafts the building has for rafters, it’s roofed with shields,
mail-coats are strewn on the benches.

10 ‘It’s very easy to recognize for those who come to Odin
to see how his hall’s arranged;
a wolf hangs west of the door
and an eagle hovers above.*


- Poetic Edda, Grimnismal


(Note: The speaker here is Odin.)