The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2003, Qupperneq 23

Vol. 58 #2
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
65
inquired as to the location of the tree,
which stood for many years until it became
a victim of Dutch elm disease like so many
other trees in the area. At some point the
elm tree broke in two. In an effort to save
it, the tree was cabled together by the
Eirikson brothers, but finally fell to the
ground about 10 years ago.
Today we are fortunate to have with us
two of Stephan G. Stephansson’s grand-
children - Stefan Benediktson and his sister
Iris Bourne. They are the children of
Stephan’s youngest daughter Rosa, who
came a number of times to visit us in the
Gardar area. They have graciously offered
to say a few words on this occasion.
We now would like to unveil this stone
marker that we are using to commemorate
Stephan G. Stephansson’s life in this area.
This stone was located on the east end of
Stephan’s land, out in a pasture next to a
fence line. Considering its size and loca-
tion, we can be assured Stephan frequently
saw the stone, and could well have been sit-
ting on it when he composed this verse
which we have inscribed on the plaque
mounted on the stone marker.
Also included on the plaque is a sum-
mary of Stephan’s life, followed by one of
Stephan’s verses which is very appropriate
as we dedicate this stone marker in his
memory.
“Her kom fslenzkt afl,
sem hof upp ur jordu steininn..."
“Here came Icelandic strength,
that hove from the earth the stone..."
- Stephan G. Stephansson
Stephan G. Stephansson Homestead
Site 1880-1889
Stephan G. Stephansson, 1853-1927,
was born in Iceland and emmigrated to
America in 1873. First settling in
Wisconsin, he then moved to this site in
Dakota Territory in 1880. In 1889, he and
his family moved and settled near
Markerville, Alberta, Canada where they
lived out their lives farming.
He was a prolific poet and composed
some 1800 pages of poetry mostly at night
after the day’s work was finished. When his
first major volume, ANDVOKUR
(Wakeful Nights), was published in 1908,
he was acclaimed as the greatest Icelandic
poet since the 13th century.
To bring things to a close, my daughter
Janelle Qohnson) Ekness will recite the
complete poem from which that final verse
was taken, At Close Of Day, translated by
Jakobina Johnson.
AT CLOSE OF DAY
And when the last of all my days is
over,
The last page turned-
And, whatsoever shall be deemed in
wages
That I have earned,
In such a mood I hope to be compos-
ing
My sweetest lay-
And then extend my hand to all the
world
And pass away
- Stephan G. Stephansson