> > > > Wolfspirit's poem reminded me of one I've written myself, so I made an attempt to translate it. This is the first time I do that!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Sea Gull Rock
> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > > >
> > > > Such commotion!
> > > >
> > > > I hope
> > > > they don't calm down
> > > > when I leave.
> > >
> > >
> > > Trust me, with enough seagulls around duking it out for territory and food, they'll keep up a perfect ruckus all day long from dawn to dusk. :-)
> > >
> > > What is your poem like in the original, untranslated version? I'd like to see it if possible.
> >
> > Here it is. Note that it's in "Nynorsk" (New Norwegian), which is one of two official written languages here. It was constructed 150 years ago by Ivar Aasen. Because we had been under Danish rule for 400 years, with our official written language thus being Danish, the original Norwegian dialects were suffering. Aasen made it his purpose in life to gather information on all dialects in western and northern Norway. He travelled around on foot for many years, interviewing people and making notes. "Nynorsk" was then constructed as a "common denominator" -- the most used words from the various dialects. (And they are many!)
> >
> >
> > Måseholmen
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >
> > For eit leven!
> >
> > Eg håpar
> > det ikkje vert stilt
> > når eg går
> >
> >
> > The other written language, "Bokmål" ('å' is pronounced like 'o' in "bored"), or "Book Language" is the most used, especially here in Oslo and in the other southern parts of Norway. This is very similar to Danish. I'll translate the poem into Bokmål, too, so you can see some the differences.
> >
> >
> > Måkeholmen
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >
> > For et leven!
> >
> > Jeg håper
> > det ikke blir stille
> > når jeg går.
>
>
> I think it really shows that you originally wrote the poem in Nynorsk. Translated to Bokmål is not bad either, as is not the English version, but it does sound best in Nynorsk. I liked it.
>
> Juho

I don't always completely understand poetry.
Sometimes, I don't understand it at all.
Howard