ekphrastic for Þórarinn Benedikt Þorláksson's 1900 painting at Þingvellir

 

Þórarinn Benedikt Þorláksson

1900

 

the first painting in Iceland

 

here's the old church reflected

the country knocked up yesterday

already falling down

 

of course it is

yet another poor century starts

 

clouds sheet the stream

the horse in eyes up to be canvas

and the other is bent to a season of fodder

 

the land's as green as the day is grey

and I can see no ice