Outside the Ring

Outside the Ring

I walk in a ring

around all there is.

And inside this ring

is your world.

My shade fell an instant

on the window glass.

I walk in a ring

around all there is.

And outside this ring

is my world.

Steinn Steinarr (“Utan Hringsins” in the original Icelandic)

Translation by Sheila Graham-Smith

© 2017

From Wikipedia:    

Steinn Steinarr (born Aðalsteinn Kristmundsson, 13 October 1908 – 25 May 1958) was an Icelandic poet.

Many Icelanders regard Steinn Steinarr as their greatest poet, although he remains almost unknown outside of Iceland, due perhaps to a lack of effective translations of his poetry.

Image links to its source on Wiki Commons:

Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944) “Circles in a Circle” – 1923

Public domain.

Passion Hymn, no. 51

Passion Hymn, no. 51

On Valhús hill
a man is being crucified.
And people buy themselves a ride
by bus
to watch him.

It is sunny and warm ,
and the sea is flat and blue.

This is a pretty man
with a high forehead
and peat-gold hair.

And the girl with sea-green eyes
said to me:

Should the guy not be bored
being crucified?


Steinn Steinarr
Translation by Sheila Graham-Smith
© 2016


From Wikipedia:    Steinn Steinarr (born Aðalsteinn Kristmundsson, 13 October 1908 – 25 May 1958) was an Icelandic poet.

    Many Icelanders regard Steinn Steinarr as their greatest poet, although he remains almost unknown outside of Iceland, due perhaps to a lack of effective translations of his poetry.

Image links to its source on Wiki Commons: “Le Christ jaune” (“The Yellow Christ”): Paul Gauguin (1848–1903) – 1889; oil on
canvas
Public domain

"Raining"

Raining


Hoof print in water,
twilight-blue eyes
flaxen mane.

And my meaning disappeared
in the hot earth ,
like half-set wax.

But my name continued
in an anonymous way
until the next day.

 
Steinn Steinarr ("Rigning " in the original Icelandic)
Translation by Sheila Graham-Smith © 2016


From Wikipedia:

    Steinn Steinarr (born Aðalsteinn Kristmundsson, 13 October 1908 – 25 May 1958) was an Icelandic poet.

    Many Icelanders regard Steinn Steinarr as their greatest poet, although he remains almost unknown outside of Iceland, due perhaps to a lack of effective translations of his poetry.

Image links to its source on Wiki Commons:
Storm: Ilmari Aalto – 1915; oil painting
Public domain

"Sun"

Sun

The sun,
the sun was with me ,
like a slender woman ,
in yellow shoes .

Twenty fathoms deep
lay my faith and love
like a two-toned blossom.

And the sun passed
over the unsuspecting blossom 
in yellow shoes.



Steinn Steinarr ("Solin" in the original Icelandic)
Translation by Sheila Graham-Smith © 2015

 
From Wikipedia:

Steinn Steinarr (born Aðalsteinn Kristmundsson, 13 October 1908 – 25 May 1958) was an Icelandic poet.

Many Icelanders regard Steinn Steinarr as their greatest poet, although he remains almost unknown outside of Iceland, due perhaps to a lack of effective translations of his poetry.

Image links to its source on Wiki Commons   Nature morte avec des tournesols sur un fauteuil (Still life with sunflowers on an armchair): Paul Gaugin. 1901. Public domain

"Poetry"

Poetry

Under the encompassing heaven,
with a golden-white star,
I walk alone
through the night.

And the world is full of darkness,
revolving in circles
like a mill wheel .

And the world stands still
inside its circling
and heaven sinks
the companion star
like a warped pearl
in the water of darkness.

And the star and I
let us go silent and wondering
past each other
through the night.


Steinn Steinarr ("Ljóð" in the original Icelandic)
Translation by Sheila Graham-Smith © 2015

 
From Wikipedia:

Steinn Steinarr (born Aðalsteinn Kristmundsson, 13 October 1908 – 25 May 1958) was an Icelandic poet.

Many Icelanders regard Steinn Steinarr as their greatest poet, although he remains almost unknown outside of Iceland, due perhaps to a lack of effective translations of his poetry.

Image links to its source on Wiki Commons   
"Moorkanal mit Torfkähnen" ("Moor Channel with Peat Barges"): Paula Modersohn-Becker, c. 1900
Public domain

“Time and Water”

Time and Water

Time is like the water,
and the water is cold and deep
as my witness.

And time is like a picture,
which is painted by the water
and me, but half-done.

And time and water
run un-channelled to exhaustion
in my witness.

Steinn Steinarr ("Tíminn og vatnið" in the original Icelandic)
Translation by Sheila Graham-Smith © 2015

 
From Wikipedia:

Steinn Steinarr (born Aðalsteinn Kristmundsson, 13 October 1908 – 25 May 1958) was an Icelandic poet.

Many Icelanders regard Steinn Steinarr as their greatest poet, although he remains almost unknown outside of Iceland, due perhaps to a lack of effective translations of his poetry.

Image links to its source on Wiki Commons  
Sumarkvöld við Reykjavík (Summer Evening in Reykjavík) by Þórarinn B. Þorláksson (1867-1924). Made in 1904.
Public domain.

"Asphalt"

 Asphalt


Under hundreds of other iron heels
I dreamed a dream about you.
Walking out one autumn evening the sounds of the blues,
Feather-light footsteps
the dimly lit tread.
Feather-light footsteps avoid all roads
and know that I love you.

Steinn Steinarr ("Malbik" in the original Icelandic)
Translation by Sheila Graham-Smith © 2015

 

From Wikipedia:

Steinn Steinarr (born Aðalsteinn Kristmundsson, 13 October 1908 – 25 May 1958) was an Icelandic poet.

Many Icelanders regard Steinn Steinarr as their greatest poet, although he remains almost unknown outside of Iceland, due perhaps to a lack of effective translations of his poetry.

Image links to its source on Wiki Commons   
Sólarlag við Tjörnina (Sunset by Tjörnin) by Þórarinn B. Þorláksson (1867-1924). Made in 1905.
Public domain.