Icelanders

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

A reader has asked if I might write a poem about Ingólfur Arnarson, an early and probably the most important historical Icelander. While Iceland had previously been visited, and a few others had resided on it for short periods, he was the first to relocate from Norway, and permanently settle there with his family.

Wikipedia tells us that ‘According to Landnáma (The Icelandic Book of Settlements), he built his homestead in and gave name to Reykjavík in 874. (However, archaeological finds in Iceland suggest settlement may have started somewhat earlier.) The medieval chronicler Ari Þorgilsson said Ingólfur was the first Nordic settler in Iceland, but mentioned that "Papar" – i.e. Irish monks and hermits – had been in the country before the Norsemen. He wrote that they left because they did not want to live amongst the newly arrived Norse pagans.’

 Ingólfur Arnarson commands his high seat pillars to be erected in this painting by Peter Raadsig (Image from Wikipedia).

This poem is a villanelle.

ICELANDERS

A Norseman making history
in a land of ice and snow,
settling there with his family

Where few had come briefly
only to explore and go,
a Norseman making history

Summoning a native bravery
he’d have history know,
settling there with his family

Trusting instinct and curiosity
inviting others to follow,
a Norseman making history

Overcoming its open hostility,
(as later years would show)
settling there with his family

Ingólfur Arnarson, legendary
figure all Icelanders know,
a Norseman making history,
settling there with his family

Copyright R. N. Taber 2019