Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.08.2010, Qupperneq 6

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6 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • 1 August 2010
W.D. Valgardson
“I’ve got a new book coming out,” David Gis-
lason said.
I sat, thunderstruck. I’d asked awhile back
about L-H publishing some of his poetry but got
a diffident answer. I wasn’t sure the answer meant
poetry wasn’t worth writing anymore or he just
didn’t have time for writing with his other com-
mitments. I’m glad I was wrong on both counts.
A few years ago, I went to supper at a private
home. David was there and, as we had dessert, he
read us a poem in Icelandic and then his transla-
tion of it. His reading was memorable, one of those
times when everything is right with the world. One
of those times when one feels privileged, good
food, good company, good coffee and good poetry
read well. It felt like one of those moments I keep
hearing about that took place at Sunday afternoon
literary and music events in private homes but have
since been lost.
His book of poems, The Fifth Dimension,
should be available at the park during the Icelan-
dic Festival. Surprisingly, it has been published in
Iceland. That’s the effect of the króna falling. It
pays to publish a book in Iceland.
He says in the forward that “As chairman of
the Millennium 125 Commission it was my chal-
lenge and my goal to help re-vitalize the bonds that
had existed between the Icelandic population that
remained at home, and the descendants of those
who struck out for new opportunities and life in
the New World of the West, from 1874 and on.
“In 1994 I travelled to Iceland in early July
as one of a group of Icelandic National League
representatives. It was the fiftieth anniversary
of the establishment of the modern Republic of
Iceland, after hundreds of years of foreign domi-
nation. This was a defining moment for me. My
wife Gladys has often said that this
was when I began to really appreciate
my Icelandic heritage.”
David grew up in a farming dis-
trict that was predominately settled
by Icelanders. His first language
was Icelandic. Many others left the
district but he stayed and became a
farmer. This book of poems marries
those two loves: his passionate in-
terest in all things Icelandic and his
love of farming. The book has some
of his original poems, translations
of Icelandic poems and translations
of poems by Icelandic Canadians.
At the end is some fascinating prose
that makes the reader understand how important
poetry has been to the Icelandic North American
community.
It is obvious that David’s quest to “re-vitalize
the bonds that had existed between the Icelandic
population that remained at home, and the de-
scendants of those who struck out for new oppor-
tunities” hasn’t ended. In the face of disastrous
farming conditions in the Interlake, he has man-
aged to turn his attention to poetry and bring to-
gether our past, present and future.
First Lutheran Church
580 Victor Street
Winnipeg R3G 1R2
204-772-7444
www.mts.net/~flcwin
Worship with us
Sundays 10:30 a.m.
Pastor Michael Kurtz
A book worth celebrating
We may not publish as much as the Iceland-ers but we publish
quite a bit. There’ll be books
by and about Icelanders for sale
at the Gimli pavilion. Authors
will be around. Here’s a chance
to talk to them.
Carol Gardarson, David
Gislason, David Arnason, Rob-
ert Low, Fay Cassidy, Doris
Benson, Guy Maddin, Borga
Jakobson. The only thing
known about David’s book
is that dead people talk.
At least that’s the rumour.
Robert Low’s Vikings
looks properly violent
and adventurous. David
Gislason’s book of po-
ems and prose celebrates
Icelandic and Icelandic
North American poetry.
The other books have
been released awhile ago
but if you haven’t got a
copy, they’re brand new
to you.
We have a great lit-
erary history and tradi-
tion both here and in
Iceland.
Books by the bushel
PTH 6
Lundar Manitoba
762-5231
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Best wishes for a successful
Íslendingadagurinn!