Re: Royal Poetry Contest

> "Hnísu söltum sultu
> (svanr gat Nikuz) skatnar
> (hold, logs hlenni ennis)
> hundmargir í grundum."
>
> This would make the third line Type D1.
> The first line is clearly Type A.
> The second line has to be Type A too,
> I think. But the third syllable is short,
> which might be a problem. We could "fix" it
> by substituting another name for Óðinn - say,
> "Óðinn", but that would hurt the rhyme a bit.
> The fourth line is Type E, although 'í' makes
> for a somewhat crappy metrical foot.

With line 2, I was actually hoping for type A2k, which if I've
understood right, is supposed to have a short second lift.
Like: 'ræðr grönn Skögul manni', or 'lögseims faðir heiman'.

Would another preposition, e.g. 'und' carry more weight than 'í'?

> I like "hlenni logs ennis",
> is it an original idea?

Fire/light of the forehead is traditional, but I haven't seen a bird
of prey called the thief of this.

>
> The winning poem was written by Einar Kolbeinsson, a farmer.
>
> ------------------------------------------------
> Prinsinn af Wales - Kveðja frá íslensku þjóðinni
>
> Norðan úr hafi hvar nákaldir vindar,
> nauða við gluggann um síðkvöldin löng,
> flytjum við dýrðar- og fagnaðarsöng,
> því fljótlega marka skal endalok syndar.

From the north, out of the sea, where winds cold as death nag at the
window in the long late evenings, we deliver (let us deliver) a song
of glory and joy... (and I got confused with the last line.)

> Ástleitni mennina áfram mun teyma,
> ofsögum þetta er tæplega sagt,
> og nú verður brúðkaup með pompi og pragt,
> en pínlegum ágalla skulum við gleyma.

? Love will take the reins to lead people forward, this is hardly
an ?exaggeration, and now there will be a wedding with pomp and
splendour, and we should forget ?embarrassing faults.

(Not sure how to parse 'Ástleitni', so I guessed it might be an
abstract feminine noun. The Online Icelandic Dictionary dictionary
has 'ástleitinn' "coquettish, flirtatious", so maybe
flirtatiousness? But is this the right register? Or have I got the
wrong end of the stick completely...)

> Þjóðin leggst ekki í þvermóðsku og fýlu,
> þó allir viti að staðan er sú,
> að prinsinn sem eignast í alvöru frú,
> aldrei mun ganga til drottningarhvílu.

The nation eschews defience / obstinacy and ill humour, though all
know that it's the case, that the prince who weds a women who has
already been married, will never go to the bed of a queen. (i.e.
his wife won't be called queen.)

> Verðandi konungur heimsveldishirðar,
> af hetjuskap sannlega axlar þær byrðar!

Becoming king of the court of a world power, truly with heroism he
shoulders those burdens.

(Hopefully the 'hirð' of Karl Konungur won't be the rowdy, laughing-
at-pilgrims, bone-throwing kind. Still, it might make royal garden
parties more, um, memorable.)

Llama Nom