Canadian Poetry Assignment

Canada

Stephan Stephansson (1853 – 1927)

It was formerly believed, on a sea-battered shore

though the storm at home blasted,

that in the distant west there still lay lands,

where calm and sun never ended,

for there the good season had found it's retreat

and freedom and compassion - all that is best.

They set no sail, but thought high,

by the ocean they dreaming stood,

as the sun slid into the lowest west

in the evening's blue-misted spring dusk,

then hope and desire glide out with the breeze

on the still-blank, sun gilt, wide armed sea.

Though oceans still flood, that separate lands,

the passage across is effortless.

And our Markland, Canada, its genius and care

the world held out to you over the sea.

To the Greeks you could only appear in a poem -

but to Icelandic sea kings you gave yourself first.

Still human hope turns its tired eyes

from the east, to dream about you -

you proved good to all, who loved you fervently,

who possess here rapture and home.

And all with you is fullfilled and able to root

which the unquiet spirit has dreamed best.

__________________________________________________________

This harmonic poem about Canada by the famous Icelander, Stephan Stephansson portrays Canada as a majestic land where everything seems perfect. Stephansson was born in Iceland and emigrated to the U.S and later landed in Alberta, Canada. He wrote this poem because he was inspired by Canada’s landscape and the lifestyle that comes with it. He mentions that while he was in Iceland, he often dreamed about coming west to Canada where “calm and sun never ended,” which exhibits his desire toward living in Canada. I think this poem really demonstrates how people from all around the world come to immigrate to Canada because of how beautiful the landscape is. It also portrays that at the time that it was written; people describe Canada as place of “freedom and compassion”. I chose this poem about Canada because it depicts Canada in the same way that I would describe it as.