Icelandic Poems | Examples

Asia Is Larger Than a Novel 2

To live is to forgive,
To the girl who wears makeup over her vacuum cleaner,
To the shy writer who won the Nobel Prize,
To the growing silence of Icelandic whales and sperm whales,

To live is to forgive, Joseph Kessel, Beatrice,	
To the panther-sized dancer,
Who leaves you on Valentine’s Day,
For touching you that you are not the center of the world,
Like Joseph Kessel, nor Edgar Allan Poe or Baudelaire.

To live is to forgive.
Asia is larger than a novel by Joseph Kessel.

Moon Goddess of Aurora Borealis

Moon goddess of Aurora Borealis
Tidal pull consternates the gods
Mercury in retrograde spins the planet
Celestial passions on parade
Cosmic energy hovers over the mountains
Mystical meanderings make melodic music
Moon goddess oversees Icelandic influences
All is right in the Nordic world tonight

Happy Birthday To Laura

Note: Laura Leiser has been a good friend for several years and was the one who invited me to try Poetry Soup in 2016. She leads a writer's workshop that I am blessed to be a member of, and is a talented poet in many styles, writing of nature, family, faith, whimsical topics and vignettes from life. I hope you can take some time this week to check out some of her poems. Happy Birthday Laura!  (June 10th)


Creation is your most beloved theme:
"Icelandic talismans of tales sublime".
So many forms you've written, it would seem
you never lack for metaphor or rhyme.

Your faith in God so strong, with nuance blest
in poems 'giving godly grace' to all.
Heroic crown of sonnets - I'm impressed! 
a masterpiece that holds my soul in thrall.

You write of moments from the life you live,
of lovely grandchildren - one girl, one boy.
As you have given freely, so I give
my birthday greeting - may it bring you joy!

So grateful for the heartfelt, warm invite
six years ago that led me to this site.

The Land of Fire and Ice

An overnight flight, I couldn't sleep if I tried
Too excited to see what awaited outside
We stepped off the plane to be covered in rain
For an Icelandic adventure and memories to gain

In a motorhome we went travelling around
Selfoss roaring, geysir erupting from the ground
On golden circle, we stood in two places at once
No time to see it all, we'd have been there for months

Now some whale watching, so we hopped on a boat
A playful humpback was out, so close to our float
So majestic and huge, you'd believe it to see him
Especially after the visiting their phallological museum

An amazing place full of tucked away hotsprings
A small "hot tub" in the mountains, of all things
Cheers with an Einstock and the viking thunderclap 
I'll be back one day, but for now, that's a wrap.

PISCES PIECES

Now see a fine display in market hall 
Where fishmonger's stalls sell the freshest catch. 
A world of wet white tiles and melting ice. 
Seafood displayed, arranged in rank and file.
One Scottish salmon commands centre stage
Stretched out upon its own tray of crushed ice
And next to a few Icelandic haddock 
Along with cod trawled from the Dogger Bank.
 
To one side are some plaice all flopped and flat.
Seems they are staring up with fixed focus.  
A side display of small fry, placed parallel 
And herrings heaped up in sad slump of grey. 
Some calamari, tasteless rubbery squid
Are off stage with other seldom sold bits.  

In the corner there's offal bin with heads,
Guts, skeletons and several layers of skin. 
Take for your cat. Put pence in charity box. 
A fine display we see in market hall.

Icelandic Yule Tide Cat

Rat-a-tat-tat, it is the sound of the dreaded, Icelandic Yule Cat.
You have to get me a jacket or shoes or something else I plead
My mother rolls her eyes. That’s a faerie tale, she says. Her face is fat.
Come on! I say, it will eat me up, I will be ripped and bleed.

My father gives me an eye roll that says he does not believe.
Polish, what does he know of this notorious evil Yule Cat that’s near?
My grandmother told me. My chest begins to wail and heave.
Rat-a-tat-tat, rat-a-tat-tat. I can hear it and nearly faint with fear

Socks, a headband, a wrist, a shirt, a blouse, something I beg.
I can hear the masticating teeth, and I nearly die with fright.
I would get you jeans, but they will be long and narrow in the leg,
My mother says after a while, then she turns off my night light.

It is Christmas Eve, and I am too afraid to close my eyes.
I should have only asked for clothes, not toys or that autograph.
If she does not keep her promise, I will be one of many who dies.
Rat-a-tat-tat sound comes right up to my ear, hot breath, and a laugh.

Rob the Plumb Bob

Rob the Plumb Bob
True upright, Honest vertical,
Forthright citizen, If criticized, Unfair!,
Assured in Approaching Life's "Hurdle-cal",
Mich's husband devoted, likewise Lucas's Pere,
Spiritual thinker hardly heretical,
Kind, Kind, Kind, never one to scare,
Moral, principled always ethical,
For the NGA, Rob does contractors snare,
Pro at his roles, family & work, nobody's skeptical,
A well travelled road grows no grass...Rob's scalp's losing hair,
Rob's Icelandic blood belies his manner tropical,
Sharing to anyone in need, recipients just stare,
Always generous even when not economical,
Doubt Rob's convictions? Don't you dare!

Arabians To Zebras

Ancient Arabians, mother to all
Bloodlines, essence of exquisiteness

Clydesdales, symmetry of strength
Dignity of duty, power of purpose

Ebony elegance, midnight silk
Friesians, crusaders in
Galloping gallantry

Hardy hearts, tiny and tenacious
Icelandic horses, gaited grace over
Jagged soil, volcanic climes

Kaleidoscope diamonds, lissome finesse
Lipizzaners, dancer of moonbeam dreams

Mustang beauty, bred by
Nature, to run in
Open grasslands, their hides
Paints of freedom

Quarter horses, nimble and surefoot across
Ranges unfenced, corralling waves of herds

Sleek strides, sinewy speed
Thoroughbreds, spirits of the wind

Unbridled, they fill all
Valleys and vistas in
Wild wonder; with Alexander and
Xerxes, they conquered the world

You may say these are outside the list
Zebras, to me - the mounts of fairies and myth

2/16/20

Northern Lights

white icelandic snow
beneath natural light show ~
emerald green shroud


Written 26 January 2020


For contest Nature themed haiku with color

The Icelandic Phallological Museum- Bawdy Limerick For Tom

In Iceland there’s a Willy museum
It’s not huge like an old Colosseum
Filled with all types of willies
It would give me the sillies
But people pay lots of Kroner to see um!

Inspired by a comment Tom Cunnigham made on my Aurora Borealis poem
The museum has many exhibits of the genitals of animals!

1/8/20

Land of Lights

A sweep of milky waves flood onyx sands
converging under endless summer skies
of northern lights in iridescent bands
Icelandic talismans of tales sublime.

A glassy sea of crystalline degrees
sustain a mass of icebergs in its pews
that lift their icy eyes in melting pleas
to wrest the dying of their waning hues. 

Aurora beams reflect unearthly lights
against tall umber cliffs that stand below
the vivid landscape raises to grand heights 
a trippy, tie dyed phosphorescent show. 

In seldom witnessed, lonely obscure lands
a sweep of milky waves flood onyx sands. 




Written on 5/21/2019

Paddy Is Doing It Diffrent

Paddy said to Murphy soon I will be going on holiday,
In fact I am booked to go next Saturday.
Last year I went to New York, Molly got pregnant.
It was a good holiday, glad I went.
Two years ago I visited Old London Town,
Molly got pregnant, really got her down.
Three years ago I visited the cold Icelandic North,
Molly got pregnant, her first babe she brought forth.
This year I am doing things a different way,
So Molly won’t get pregnant, I am having my say.
Murphy said” What are you doing that is different this year?”
Paddy replied” I am taking Molly with me, rather than leave her here.”

Lost World

Lost World


             Wayward ships lost in stormy seas
              Oceans of emptiness begging please
              Ripples of tides in various degrees
              Liquid cooled blue Icelandic freeze
              Desperate land watered down trees

               Capsized cruise on a beach unknown
               Reality sets in now left all alone
               Unseen distances of sand and stone
               Island so empty with green overtones
               Skeleton ship full of broken bones
               Embracing life a castaways new home


        Written for contest: World Cruise (Acrostic) 10/04/17
                  WON 3rd PLACE IN CONTEST RESULTS

Pickity Pockity Is a Pied a Puskin

Polka dot swimming gala is neither a boiled cake or a slow roasted peanut on toast. A rave in a raven tent is a window view on an icelandic island. But language learnt leaves laughing leaf. And a bionic bikini in a wasteland sprawl is neither a synagogue or an icon. Board a boat brilliantly and bring a board of blueberries. Swirling. But no iced top. Not today. There is too much grease to clear. Ok then. We can go for a walk and chat to microscopic flying worms, millipedes and a fruit scone. Fantastic. Wow. Dare to dive in a characterisation of a portrait? Hahaha ingestion of investigation inverted no commas. Hahah bed xxxxx calligraphers that was the p y q reporting on a lid. Z

Many Miles Away

Many miles away, a mammoth journey to complete
Travelling by stealth, incognito, alone by wise choice
Hazy memories of his homeland and boyhood street
Friendless these lean years, no recognition to rejoice

Mercenary factions control his vagabond life
Icelandic fjords, volcanic rocks, desert dunes attend
Flash bye and fade,  fragmented in perennial strife
Look far away, head and heart appraises to amend

Many miles away, a mammoth journey to complete
For seven long years he kept away, a lifetime ago
Hazy memories of his homeland and boyhood street
Aged in years, comparisons he hides well below

In cosmopolitan artificiality
He orchestrated ways and means for exited culls
Initiated to ensure free world buoyancy
To prevent corruption by power hungry moguls

Many miles away, a mammoth journey to complete
This last commission to undertake for MI5
Then return to his love ones, homeland and boyhood street
If the powers that be are with him he will survive

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