Poem of the Week, week 43: Stein Mehren

FROST This is what a star tastes like on a late October day: Of frost-iron Reed mirrors where shadows sharp as knives slice a shudder of fear through the water We can hear the dead rustling in their cocoons And a blade of ice, driven so hard it shudders in the ground and the mirror-bright sea freezes and sings Translated by Annabelle Despard

FROST Det er slik en stjerne smaker en sen dag i oktober: Av frost-jern Sivspeil der skygger skarpe som kniver skjærer en iling av skrekk gjennom vannet Vi hører de døde knitre i sine kokonger Og en klinge av is, blir så hardt og dirrende slått ned i bakken at den speilblanke sjøen fryser og synger

From Stein Mehren (1935–2017), Den siste ildlender, H. Aschehoug & Co. (W. Nygaard), Oslo 2002.

Poem of the Week. 52 poems through the year

From the time when the earliest texts were recorded in runic inscriptions, poetry has had a strong position in Norway. By introducing a new poem each week throughout 2019, we aim to highlight the quality and breadth of Norwegian poetry. «Poem of the Week» presents 52 poems, inspired by the changing seasons and the passing of the year. The selection has been made by Annette Vonberg and Tone Carlsen, and consists of poems from the earliest handwritten manuscripts up until today, with a special emphasis on contemporary poetry.

Poem of the Week, week 43: Stein Mehren "Frost"

Take part in a weekly journey through 52 poems by authors from Norway throughout 2019 – Norway’s year as Guest of Honour.

Poem of the Week. 52 poems through the year