Showing posts with label poem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poem. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The Yuletide lads - part 15


On Christmas night itself
- so a wise man writes
- the lads were all restraint
and just stared at the lights.


Then one by one they trotted off
into the frost and snow.
On Twelfth Night the last
of the lads used to go.


Their footprints in the highlands
are effaced now for long,
the memories have all turned
to image and song

By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Yuletide lads - part 14

Candle beggar
( Kertasníkir )

The thirteenth was Candle Beggar
- ´twas cold, I believe,
if he was not the last
of the lot on Christmas Eve.
    He trailed after the little ones
    who, like happy sprites,
    ran about the farm with
    their fine tallow lights.
      By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
        Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

        Monday, December 22, 2008

        The Yuletide lads - part 13

        Meat Hook
        ( Kjötkrækir )

        Meat Hook, the twelfth one,
        his talent would display
        as soon as he arrived
        on Saint Thorlak´s Day.
          He snagged himself a morsel
          of meat of any sort,
          although his hook at times was
          a tiny bit short.
            By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
              Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

              Sunday, December 21, 2008

              The Yuletide lads - part 12

              Door Sniffer
              ( Gáttaþefur )

              Eleventh was Door Sniffer,
              a doltish lad and gross.
              He never got a cold, yet had
              a huge, sensitive nose.
                He caught the scent of lace bread
                while leagues away still
                and ran toward it weightless
                as wind over dale and hill.
                  By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
                    Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

                    Saturday, December 20, 2008

                    The Yuletide lads - part 11

                    Window Peeper
                    ( Gluggagæjir )


                    The tenth was Window Peeper,
                    a weird little twit,
                    who stepped up to the window
                    and stole a peek through it.
                      And whatever was inside
                      to which his eye was drawn,
                      he most likely attempted
                      to take later on.
                        By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
                          Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

                          Friday, December 19, 2008

                          The Yuletide lads - part 10

                          Sausage Swiper
                          ( Bjúgna krækir )

                          The ninth was Sausage Swiper,
                          a shifty pilferer.
                          He climbed up to the rafters
                          and raided food from there.
                            Sitting on a crossbeamin
                            soot and in smoke,
                            he fed himself on sausage
                            fit for gentlefolk.
                              By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
                              Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

                              Thursday, December 18, 2008

                              The Yuletide lads - part 9

                              Skyr Gobbler
                              ( Skyr gámur)

                              Skyr Gobbler, the eighth,
                              was an awful stupid bloke.
                              He lambasted the skyr tub
                              till the lid on it broke.
                                Then he stood there gobbling
                                - his greed was well known -
                                until, about to burst,
                                he would bleat, howl and groan.
                                  By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
                                  Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

                                  Wednesday, December 17, 2008

                                  The Yuletide lads - part 8

                                  Door Slammer
                                  ( Hurðaskellir )

                                  The seventh was Door Slammer,
                                  a sorry, vulgar chap:
                                  When people in the twilight
                                  would take a little nap,
                                  he was happy as a lark
                                  with the havoc he could wreak,
                                  slamming doors and hearing
                                  the hinges on them sqeak.
                                    By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
                                      Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

                                      Tuesday, December 16, 2008

                                      The Yuletide lads - part 7

                                      Bowl Licker
                                      ( Askasleikir )

                                      Bowl Licker, the sixth one,
                                      was shockingly ill bred.
                                      From underneath the bedsteads
                                      he stuck his ugly head.
                                        And when the bowls were left
                                        to be licked by dog or cat,
                                        he snatched them for himself
                                        - he was sure good at that!
                                          By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson
                                            Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

                                            Sunday, December 14, 2008

                                            The Yuletide lads - part 5

                                            Spoon Licker
                                            (Þvörusleikir)

                                            The fourth was Spoon Licker;
                                            like spindle he was thin.
                                            He felt himself in clover
                                            when the cook wasn't in.

                                            Then stepping up, he grappled
                                            the stirring spoon with glee,
                                            holding it with both hands
                                            for it was slippery.

                                            English translation/Copyright © Hallberg Hallmundsson.

                                            Saturday, December 13, 2008

                                            The Yuletide lads - part 4

                                            Stubby
                                            (Stúfur)

                                            Stubby was the third called,
                                            a stunted little man,
                                            who watched for every chance
                                            to whisk off a pan.


                                            And scurrying away with it,
                                            he scraped off the bits
                                            that stuck to the bottom
                                            and brims - his favorites.


                                            English translation/Copyright © Hallberg Hallmundsson.

                                            Friday, December 12, 2008

                                            The Yuletide lads - part 3

                                            Gully Gawk
                                            (Giljagaur)



                                            The second was Gully Gawk,
                                            gray his head and mien.
                                            He snuck into the cow barn
                                            from his graggy ravine.

                                            Hiding in the stalls,
                                            he would steal the milk, while
                                            the milkmaid gave the cowherd
                                            a meaningful smile.

                                            English translation/Copyright © Hallberg Hallmundsson.

                                            Yuletide lads - part 2

                                            Sheep-Cote Clod
                                            (Stekkjastaur)



                                            The first of them was Sheep-Cote Clod.
                                            He came stiff as wood,
                                            to pray upon the farmer´s sheep
                                            as far as he could.

                                            He wished to suck the ewes,
                                            but it was no accident
                                            he couldn´t; he had stiff knees
                                            - not to convenient.

                                            English translation/Copyright © Hallberg Hallmundsson.

                                            Thursday, December 11, 2008

                                            The Yuletide lads - part 1

                                            Let me tell the story
                                            of the lads of few charms,
                                            who once upon a time
                                            used to visit our farms.

                                            They came from the mountains,
                                            as many of you know,
                                            in a long single file
                                            to the farmsteads below.

                                            Grýla was their mother
                                            - she gave them ogre milk -
                                            and the father Leppalúdi;
                                            a loathsome ilk.

                                            They were called the Yuletide lads
                                            - at Yuletide they were due -
                                            and always came one by one,
                                            not ever two by two.

                                            Thirteen altogether,
                                            these gents in their prime
                                            didn´t want to irk people
                                            all at one time.

                                            Creeping up, all stealth,
                                            they unlocked the door.
                                            The kitchen and the pantry
                                            they came looking for.


                                            They hid where they could,
                                            with a cunning look or sneer,
                                            ready with their pranks
                                            when people weren´t near.

                                            And even when they were seen,
                                            they weren´t loath to roam
                                            and play their tricks - disturbing
                                            the peace of the home.

                                            English translation/Copyright © Hallberg Hallmundsson.

                                            Thursday, February 07, 2008

                                            Don't expect Shakespear!

                                            There once was a viking
                                            who had a good liking,
                                            to plunder and pillage
                                            any Irish village,
                                            his name was Sven
                                            and like all his men,
                                            he was burly and blond
                                            but was unceremoniously pushed into a pond..

                                            When Sven nearly drowned
                                            he got angry and frowned,
                                            but the lady stood there gloating
                                            where he was a-floating,
                                            he had a fish in his hair
                                            which he flung with a flair,
                                            straight at her face
                                            so she quickened her pace.

                                            After her he went
                                            and he didn't relent,
                                            until he caught er to his chest
                                            that's what a viking does best!
                                            he flung her over his shoulder
                                            with the intent to hold her
                                            he carried her away
                                            all the way to Norway.

                                            She ended up in his ship
                                            where she gave him a split lip,
                                            he tried to kiss her
                                            but she made sure he missed her,
                                            when his lips aproached her chin
                                            she kicked him in the shin,
                                            so now Sven was limping
                                            and his ardor was rapidly sinking.

                                            She thought her father would miss her
                                            not to mention her sister,
                                            but indeed he didn't mind
                                            that he could ner not find,
                                            he had tried to marry her off
                                            but she said no to all the toffs,
                                            her mind was quick, but her fist was quicker
                                            and that in the end made men not particularly like her.

                                            Now Sven is stuck with the shrew
                                            and this part of the tale is true,
                                            in the end she succumbed
                                            and in a few words it can be summed
                                            of an amarous viking
                                            it is easy to develop a liking,
                                            now finally she rests her fists
                                            as she is busy being amorously kissed!

                                            Wednesday, January 24, 2007

                                            Burns Night

                                            "Tae a Fert"

                                            Oh what a sleekit horrible beastie.
                                            Lurks in yer belly efter a feastie.
                                            Just as you sit doon among yer kin,
                                            There starts to stir an enormous wind.

                                            The neeps and tatties and mushy peas,
                                            Stert workin like a gentle breeze.
                                            But soon the puddin' wi the sauncie face,
                                            Will have you blawin all over the place.

                                            Nae matter whit ye try tae dae,
                                            A'bodys gonnae have to pay.
                                            Even if ye try to stifle,
                                            It's like a bullet oot a rifle.

                                            Hawd yer bum tight tae the chair,
                                            Tae try and stp the leakin' air.
                                            Shift yersel frae cheek to cheek,
                                            Pray tae God it doesnae reek.

                                            But aw yer efforts go assunder,
                                            Oot it comes - a clap o' thunder.
                                            Ricochets around the room,
                                            Michty me, a sonic boom!

                                            God almighty it fairly reeks,
                                            Hope I huvnae pooed ma breeks!
                                            Tae the loo I better scurry,
                                            Aw who cares, its no ma worry.

                                            A'body roon about me chokin,
                                            Wan or two are nearly bokin.
                                            I'll feel better for a while,
                                            Cannae help but raise a smile.

                                            "Wis him!" I shout with accusin glower,
                                            Alas too late, he's just keeled ower!
                                            "Ye dirty thing!" they shout and stare,
                                            I don't feel welcome any mair.

                                            Where ere you go let yer wind gang free,
                                            Sounds like just the job fur me.
                                            Whit a fuss at Rabbie's party,
                                            Ower the sake o' wan wee ferty!!

                                            I am going to a Burns night and ceilidh! Ligga ligga lái!!!