Actulally, the 6 line metre is an exception, mainly used for more lyrical
and sentimental poetry. It is generally clearer than the more common 8 line
metre which has many types and can be very cryptic. If anyone is interested
in this form, I can look up the correct forms and post them along with examples.
Metaphors and cryptic naming was common so understanding the poems can be a
puzzle to solve e.g. "forhead's high walls=eyebrows" Word order in
Icelandic was and is very free and adds to the difficulty of understanding.
We learn this poetry in secondary schools, age 16 to 20, and although the
words are really the same still, the meaning is totally lost on kids this
age, until the teacher rearranges the word in a more usual way, and explains
the names and metaphores.
Deyr fe d Dies cattle
Deyja fraendr d Dies kin
Deyr sjalfr hid sama s - s Dies oneself as well
En ordstir o But reputation Wowels are
Deyr aldreigi a Dies never interchangable
Hveim ser godan getur g - g Who one good makes
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Gupmann Bragi Birgisson, student of International Marketing B.Sc
http://www.ti.is/~gudmanb
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