Melkorka’s poem

Melkorka Mýrkjartansdóttir is named in the sagas of Icelanders as an irish princess brought to Iceland by a chieftain as a slave. She is considered mute and stupid, until it is discovered that she actually speaks Gaelic to her son. Her story is an echo to modern day immigrant women in Iceland.

The poem twists “Grettisljóð” by Matthías Jochumsson, that was glorifying the tragic outlaw hero Grettir sterki as a cultural hero of the land.
The poem claims Melkorka as a cultural hero too. Migrant women were always part of this land.

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Til hennar,

Hún sem var seld

Hún sem var keypt

Hún sem var prinsessa 

Hún sem var þræll

Hún sem var ein

Hún sem var heimsk

Hún sem var mállaus

Hún sem var móðir.

Til hennar, 

Hún Melkorka okkar.

Til hennar sem var nauðgað

Til hennar sem var saknað

Til hennar sem fæddist erlendis

Til hennar sem dó hérlendis.

Hérna sá ég fylgjur þín.

Þú ert, Melkorka, þjóðin mín. 

ENG

Melkorka’s poem

To her,

She who was sold

She who was bought

She who was princess

She who was slave

She who was alone

She who was stupid

She who was mute

She who was mother

To her, our Melkorka.

To her, who was raped.

To her, who was missed. 

To her, who was born over the sea,

To her, who died in this country. 

Right here, I see your apparition. 

You are, Melkorka, my nation.