The Icelandic connection - 01.03.2018, Side 15

Vol. 70 #1
ICELANDIC CONNECTION
13
The Poet with calloused hands
Life on the Geir Farm
by Edward Biliski
KN had a special place at the dining table, his rocking chair in the front room and he had the
south upstairs bed room.
An endearing trait of KN’s was his love for children (as well as his ability to make fun of him
self) This special love for children he lavished on two generations of Geir’s.
About little Christine Since the first I saw you near. My need for sun light dwindled;
The light for my life’s path,
Is by the light in your eyes kindled
A common sight in the Geir home was the toddlers sitting on KN’s knee
When KN would go to town children would flock to him.
He would entertain them speaking in his verses.
When KN first arrived in Eyford in 1893 Eleanor’s grandmother Anna Geir was a widow with
five children. A one year old being cared for at neighboring farm.
KN was searching for work and was informed of the family’s situation.
The Geir farm became KN’s home for the next 44 years and the rest of his life.
Through out KN’s life he gave much of himself The work he did was very physically demanding.
KN helped with redundant chores, he worked in the harvest field built chimneys and dug many
graves - some in the heart of winter.
KN went about this task as if making up a bed for a tired friend. Most were friends.
When there was work to be done KN was always there. Not only with hard work did he give of
him self but also with his loving kindness and his warm friendship.
KN helped Eleanor s grandmother survive unspeakable grief and hardship.
In December 1895 three of Anna’s daughters became ill with fever.
KN walked in the cold and snow after medicine through two days and a night.
He stopped at a friends to rest for only a few hours.
Anna and KN did every thing they could for the children. All three passed over a couple of weeks.
Anna’s fourth daughter Lauga and son Kristjan escaped the illness.
Kristjan later married having 11 children privileged to grow up in the same home as KN
I think Anna became sort of a mother figure in KN’s life. KN came to America at the age of 18
having lost his mother four years prior. Geir family members were often aware of the depth of
KN’s feelings, how deeply he sympathized with those who were hurt or grieving.
A memory of Christine Geir Hall was KN’s tears when Grandma Anna died.
Christine mentions her own tears after KN’s passing.
Christine was going through some papers in KN’s room and came across a poem KN had
written at the time of Anna’s death.
KN’s own grief was expressed - he did not mourn only for himself. He mourned for “all of us”.
This depth of feeling and concern for others was so typical of KN.