The Icelandic connection - 01.03.2018, Qupperneq 13

Vol. 70 #1
ICELANDIC CONNECTION
II
Kvennfolk var me3 kaffisull
Karlmenn fluttu rasSubull
Par var songur, J>ar var dans
Par var eg og Sera Hans.
Sera Hans was the pastor in Pembina
County from 1883-1886 and then again
from 1901-1912. Kainn came toThingvalla
Township in 1893 when Reverend Fri5rik
Bergmann was the pastor. So, this poem,
“Annar agust” (August Second), was most
likely written between 1901-1912.
The very short version about the ND
alcohol law is as follows: North Dakota
was approved for statehood 22 Feb 1889
(four years before Kainn arrived). A clause
was proposed at the 1889 North Dakota
constitutional convention that summer to
prohibit the sale and manufacture of liquor.
The clause was voted on by the people of
ND and was approved at the October 1st
vote. Saloons, liquor sales, and alcohol
manufacturing were outlawed, beginning
July 1,1890.
Finally, in 1932, ND voted to repeal
state prohibition. Alcohol could be
manufactured, bought, and sold legally for
the first time since North Dakota became a
state. Kainn was still alive to see prohibition
repealed but Sera Hans was the pastor in
Grand Forks at the time. I suppose that
Kainn could have written this poem when
Sera Hans was working in Grand Forks
and maybe even after prohibition was lifted
in 1932. If anyone knows the actual date
this poem was written, please let me know.
I am glad this is one of the poems on the
panel. Some told me it was not appropriate
as part of the church memorial. I believe
it helps to tell the story of our ancestors
and it brings us some humour. Something
that seemed important to Kainn and to his
honor, this storyboard panel was designed.
Bjorn Olgeirsson is quoted in the
Logberg-Heimskringla newspaper 24
September 1999:
Bjorn Olgeirsson knew K.N. well in
his youth. “He was a bit unusual,” Bjorn
said, “but he did not drink as much as he
is rumoured to have done. He only made
the occasional trip to town and got a bit
cheerful. Then he walked back, making
poetry on the way. He was a great humorist
who made many interesting poems.”
A few other poems that have been
translated into English are as follows:
Back Home
So dream about your lovely island fjord
And childhood haunts upon the upland run;
Where nowhere do the colors of the land
Shine fairer in the glory of the sun.
As shepherds halloo from the mountain passes,
Their flocks descending to the the valley grasses.
In The Barn
One day when all was quiet
I heard the moo-cows bawl;
I think that they were holding
A “Ladies Aid” for all.
For everyone was yapping;
But none were understood
They talked of all and nothing,
But most concerning food.
“Yes, we’re full and chubby,
And we have lots of feed;
Like corn and ground up barley,
And stacks of hay with seed.”
“It’s not my business really,
and I don’t care, ’tis true,
But by the way, dear Spottie,
What is the date you’re due?”
“Come has the time for supper,
What will we get for treat? Be damned!