Ljóssins knörr
– Knarr of Light –
(Guðfinna Jónsdóttir's original text)
Roðnar blámöttluð bylgja,
færist bros yfir lönd.
Yzt á glampandi græði
lyftist gullvoðin þönd.
Siglir náttsólar nökkvi
fyrir Norðurlandsins strönd.
Yfir svefnþungum sævi
heldur sólknörrinn vörð,
einn og voldugur vakir
yfir vorgrænni jörð,
varpar logandi leiftrum
inn í ládauðan fjörð.
Ljóssinn sægamm með söngvum
hylla sveinar og víf,
landvörn Íslands, vors ættlands,
og þess einustu hlíf,
tengdan friðarins festum
við þess frelsi og líf.
Út um vonanna voga
skyggnast vorgróin lönd.
Hvergi herfloti húmsins
með sinn hlekk og sín bönd.
Siglir náttsólar nökkvi
fyrir Norðurlands strönd.
(translation by Helga Ragnarsdóttir)
The blue-cloaked wave blushes,
A smile envelopes lands.
On the edge of the glowing ocean
Rises the golden tapestry.
The ship of the night sun sails
Beyond the shore of Norðurland.
Over the sleepy sea
The sun’s ship stands guard,
Alone and mighty watches
Over spring green earth,
Projecting fiery sparks
Into the barren fjord.
The seagull of light is charmed,
By the lads and lasses’ songs.
The guard of Iceland, our country
And its only shield,
Bound by the ropes of peace
To its freedom and life.
Out from the hopeful inlets
Peek spring grown lands.
Nowhere the fleet of darkness
With its chains and bonds.
The ship of the night sun sails
Beyond the shore of Norðurland.