The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1964, Blaðsíða 27

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
25
Young women likewise come in singling
bands,
And mothers wait them all, with food
to please.”
The translators point out that in
all three “Almost each line evokes a
vivid picture.”
Learned minds of the West at times
indulge in liberal or unorthodox inter-
pretations of the Bible. Shevchenko,
though without formal theological
education, gives this interpretation of
Joseph, Mary and Jesus in “Mary”
(also of seventeen pages). Here again
he is apocryphal and adopts an allegor-
ical approach.
“In Joseph’s house, a simple servant-
maid,
Mary grew up. (Her holy master’s trade
Was that of carpenter or cooper
good.)”
The poet goes on to depict the An-
nunciation as the arrival to Mary of
“The Herald of Glad Tidings.”
He continues:
“Then Mary for that youth her vigil
keeps,
And as she waits for him, she sadly
weeps;
Her girlish cheeks, her eyes and lips
grow pale.
‘How you have changed! Your youthful
beauties fail,
Mary, my precious lily!’ Joseph sighed.
‘A change has come upon you, deep
and wide!
Come, Mary, let us marry, I entreat
(He could say: Lest they stone you in
the street,
Yes, slaughter you wihout a single
qualm.)
And we shall keep our small oasis’
calm’,”
Later:
“For everywhere the holy Mother
walked,
Saw her Son’s deeds and heard him
as he talked.”
The final scene refers to ithe Apostles:
“And in the name of Him you brought
to birth,
Of your afflicted Son, to every land
They carried Truth and Justice,
hand in hand;
While you, beneath a hedge, in tears
again,
Soon died of hunger in the grass.
Amen.”
The world is indebted to Andru-
syshen and Kirkconnell for their toil,
yet glorious work.
-W. J. Lindal