Labor of Love

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We have this project going in the bedroom – we’ve chosen an arts-and-crafts stencil and now we want to put a Swedish poem on the wall as a border. See, his godfather was the Poet Laureate of Sweden – Bertil Malmberg – and I thought it would be a fitting addition to our Swedish bedroom makeover to include something of his. Only … neither of us speak or read Swedish very well (or at all, frankly). So I’ve just spent the last two hours piecing together one stanza of good ol’ Bertil’s poetry using just online translators. Not the easiest, nor the best translation method, but we want to use a poem that is a bit lighter – some of the poems are deliciously dark and graphic. Not the best choice for a good night’s sleep. :))

Got stuck on two words – Vildrossmyckat as is “Och vildrossmyckat landet” and hulda, per the line “I, hulda svanor”. I know it’s talking about a country and a swan. Beyond that, eh. Not so sure. If any of you out there happen to know Swedish, I’d be mighty grateful to get some clue as to what those two words mean, or even where to look for that info. Beyond that, we may have to head over to the Swedish museum in south Philly for some guidance. But it’s important, at least to me, that we find a piece of work that is personal in some way. The additional work is worth it.

Do you have writing or a special work by a particular author (even yourself) that is special to you in some way? If so, what?

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8 thoughts on “Labor of Love”

  2. Stream of consciousness writing by a loved one is my favorite thing to read. It is a map to their personality. I love your blog.

  3. Happy 2008, Lori! I wish you nothing but the best for a happy, healthy, safe, and prosperous year.

  4. Hi Lori,
    I’ve visited your blog before. I am a children’s writer and unfortunately I do not know Swedish. But… a poem that has meant a lot to me is The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. I know it is a standard and not obscure, but every time I ask myself why I didn’t go into something more stable and lucrative, I re-read that poem and then I remember.
    Sheri

  5. Hi Sheri! Good to have you here! I’d use that poem, but to me it has double meanings – it can be read as regret, too. I agree it’s one awesome work!

  6. Lori,
    I agree you could hear regret. But I tend to listen more to the triumphant last line… and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. It is always that line that makes me smile.

    Thanks for visiting my blog. I have added you to my list of favorite blogs.

    Sheri

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