The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2003, Side 45

Vol. 58 #2
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
87
Poetry
The Travels of Johann and Steinunn’s Koffort, a Family
Heirloom
by lillian vilborg
There are not many heirlooms
in our family
and most come from
Steinunn Arnadottir and Johann Porsteinsson
She from Borgarfjordur Eystra
He from the farm Engilxk in Nordur Mulasysla
When they emigrated in 1883,
she was 29 years old and he 30
At 5' 9", she towered over him, only 5' tall
They were working at the farm Hrafnabjorg
and had three children, Porsteinn, Gudlaug, 9 and Sofffa, 1
With them on the Craikforth came their two daughters
and a koffort built from driftwood by Johann
a very plain, solid rectangular chest
with handcrafted metal hinges
that contained their books, clothes and precious belongings
The chest left from Seydisfjordur
on Iceland’s east coast
and crossed the seas first to Scotland
Then west to Canada where it landed at Quebec City
Next it experienced the rough and tumble of the train
before it finally came to Winnipeg
to live for a few years.
Johann was a milkman.
It is said his feet didn’t touch the floor when he sat on the streetcar
She kept house for “the English.”