Wild Duck Journal #3

Poem:

Yes, we love this country

as it rises forth,

rocky, weathered, above the sea,

with those thousand homes.

Loving, loving it and thinking

about our father and mother

and the saga night that sends

dreams to our earth.

And the saga night that sends,

sends dreams to our earth.

 

This country Harald saved

with his giant fleet,

this country Håkon protected

whilst Øyvind sung;

upon the country Olav painted

with his blood a cross,

from its heights Sverre spoke

up against Rome.

 

Farmers their axes sharpened

as the army came,

Tordenskiold around the coastline thundered

so that we could see it back home.

Even women stood up and fought

as if they were men;

others could only cry

but that soon would end!

 

Sure, we were not many

but we were enough,

when they challenged us

and it was at stake;

we rather let our country burn

than be defeated;

just remember what happened

at Fredrikshald!

 

Hard times we have coped with,

were at last disowned;

but in the worst suffer, blue-eyed

freedom was to us born.

It gave (us) father's strength to carry

famine and war,

it gave death itself its honour -

and it gave compromise.

 

The enemy threw away his weapon,

up the visor went,

we, in wonder, to him hasted,

because he was our brother.

Driven onto stand by the shame

we went to the south;

now we three brothers stand united,

and shall stand like that!

 

Norwegian man in house and cottage,

thank your great God!

He would protect the country,

even though it looked dark.

And as the fathers have fought,

and the mothers have wept,

the Lord has quietly moved

so we won our rights.

 

Yes, we love this country

as it looms up,

rocky and weathered, above the sea,

with its thousand homes.

And as the fathers' struggle has raised

it from poverty to victory,

even so will we, when demanded,

for its peace to stay.