Poem of the Week, week 7: Eldrid Lunden

Longing is silence. The snowdrift over the plain is so fine that it is hardly there. I think of face upon face through the drifting snow. Longing. Silence. Translated by Annabelle Despard

Lengsel er stillheit. Snødrevet over sletta er så fint at det nesten ikkje er der. Eg tenker på ansikt etter ansikt gjennom snødrevet. Lengsel. Stille.

From Eldrid Lunden (born 1940), Flokken og skuggen, Aschehoug, Oslo 2005. The English translation comes from poetryinternationalweb.net, 2012.

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 7: Eldrid Lunden "Longing is Silence"

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