A Father's Day memory for Poetry Friday Round-Up

I hope you had a good Father's Day. Ours was complicated by both house system and car system breakdowns. Oh well... We still got to see most of our family, and we were thankful that everyone is well. And... we met the new puppies!

 

Evie, above, and Moose, to the right. Both are
Australian sheep dogs.


Grandpuppies!  Aren't they CUTE!!!






Since then I've been thinking about my dad, and about poetry that was shared in our family. A sweet little nursery rhyme/finger play came to mind, and I would like to share it with you.

 My father's side of the family was Norwegian, and Daddy had a little nursery rhyme/finger play that he would play with us in Norwegian.  When I looked for the Norwegian version of this rhyme, it became obvious to me that Daddy was a using  a blend of Norwegian and English. Nonetheless, I loved Daddy's version, especially because the third line sounded so funny to me.

Knocke på dør

Peek in

Snu på knobbin

Gå bayne in

Here's an English version with actions:

Knock at the door (knock on the child's forehead)

Peek in (carefully lift child's eyelid for a peek)

Turn the knob (gentle, playful twist of the nose)

Go inside (walk fingers into the mouth)

(Obviously not up to Covid norms. Historical reference only.)

Here's me next to Daddy.

I was delighted to find an English version of this rhyme in a Nursery Rhyme book some time back, but I have since lost track of it. If you know of any print versions or other oral versions, please share.
Here's one on YouTube with an added verse: Knock at the Door.

As I was searching for information on this Norwegian rhyme, I came across the poem below which Norwegians consider their best poem over the ages.  It speaks of a beautiful dream. I especially like the last line, and thought it a good ending for today's post.

Norwegian state broadcaster NRK recently asked its listeners/viewers to select "Norway's finest poem through the ages".

The winner was the poem "Det er den draumen" ("It was a dream") by the poet Olav H.Hauge (1908-1994) .

Here follows a translation into English of the poem, which was first published in 1966.

It Was a Dream

We all carry with us this dream:

that something wonderful will happen,

that it must happen -

that time will open,

that the heart will open,

that doors will open,

that cliffs will be opened,

that springs will well forth,

that the dream will be opened,

- that we one peaceful morning will glide in -

onto a bay we had not been aware of.

-Author Olav H.Hauge

Translated for The Norway Post by Rolleiv Solholm, Chief Editor. To be honest, I'm confused by this translation. The verb "to be" is used in the present tense in the title, so I would think it should be: It Is a Dream. But.. I dare not override his translation. Maybe he had his reasons.

Thanks for reading a bit about my heritage. I'd love for you to share something of yours in the comment section.

It is my pleasure to host the Poetry Friday gathering today. Please leave your links in the comment section and I will round them up as I can during the day.

1. Little Willow posts an Emily Dickinson poem at https://slayground.livejournal.com/906899.html

2. Molly Hogan shares some recent poems at https://nixthecomfortzone.com/2020/06/25/pf-dark-thoughts-and-the-danger-of-denial/

3. Laura Purdy Salas shares her haiku at https://laurasalas.com/poems-for-teachers/morning-haiku-poetry-princesses-poetry-friday/

4. Michelle Kogan shares her susurrus poem at https://moreart4all.wordpress.com/2020/06/25/poetry-friday-sounds-of-susurrus-and-giraffes/

5. Janice Scully juxtaposes the ideas of injustice and susurrus at Salt City Verse.

6. Carol Varsalona wrote about a relaxing walk near the ocean at https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2020/06/wonderment.html

7. Kathryn Apel loves poetry swaps at https://katswhiskers.wordpress.com/2020/06/26/poetry-swap-from-jone-ruth

8. Linda Baie updates us and shares some Ogden Nash laughs at https://www.teacherdance.org/2020/06/poetry-friday-musings-on-our-world.html

9. Linda Mitchell shares prompts at https://awordedgewiselindamitchell.blogspot.com/

10. Check out Matt Forrest Esenwine's video for CLiF at https://wp.me/p2DEY3-2tU

11. Charles Waters makes a children's poetry submission  announcement at https://www.charleswaterspoetry.com/blog

12. Tricia wrote a triolet that combines both woods and susurrus at https://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2020/06/poetry-sisters-go-into-woods.html

13. Mary Lee Hahn tells history via cottonwood at http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2020/06/poetry-friday-sand-creek-cottonwoods.html

14. Irene Latham calls for submissions at   https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/

15. Irene shares a poem from her red collection at https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2020/06/artspeak-red-girl-who-reads-poem.html

16. Margaret Simon shares poetry swaps and two drafts at https://reflectionsontheteche.com/2020/06/26/poetry-friday-prompts-gifts-and-poems/

17. Elaine Magliari posts a poem by her granddaughter at http://wildrosereader.blogspot.com/2020/06/my-cat-rudy.html

18. SaraLewisHolmes shares a mouthwatering poem at https://saralewisholmes.blogspot.com/2020/06/poetry-friday-susurrus-of-heated-talk.html?showComment=1593182902342#c8147522597988482233

19. Liz Scanlon Garton retells an old favorite at https://lizgartonscanlon.com/2020/06/poetry-project-june-2020/

20. Rose Cappelli writes about a treasure from nature at https://imaginethepossibilitiesblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/26/poetry-friday-a-small-miracle/comment-page-1/#comment-9894

21. AmyVanDerwater shares a poem about a concert to plants at http://www.poemfarm.amylv.com/2020/06/gran-teatre-del-liceu.html

22. Joyce Ray shares her poem of Covid's passing at https://joyceray.blogspot.com/2020/06/after-edna-st-vincent-millay.html

23. Ruth posts about the desert of quarantine at https://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/2020/06/poetry-friday-deserts.html

24. Tanita Davis writes of the welcome woods at http://tanitasdavis.com/wp/?p=10474

25. Carol shares a chartreuse poem at http://theapplesinmyorchard.com/2020/06/26/poetry-friday-chartreuse-another-color-poem/

26. Susan Bruck shares poems and insight into parenting at https://www.soulblossomliving.com/the-conscious-parenting-journey-in-poetry/

27. Fran Haley shares her echo line poem at https://litbitsandpieces.com/2020/06/23/im-the-one-who-leaps/

28.  Find a poem of summer memories at https://mhshee1104.wordpress.com/2020/06/28/childhood/