Linear view vs. Masonry View

Tag Archive for ‘Writing’

Be Swedes

Be Swedes

When I visit a museum, I spend more time looking at the building than the exhibitions. When you enter the Nordic Museum in Stockholm, you’ll see this statue of the king Gustav Vasa sitting in an impressive hall. The text on the pedestal reads in translation “Be Swedes“. To understand why this statement we need a short history lesson.

Gustav Vasa or Gustav I was king between 1523-1560. He became king after leading a rebellion against the Danish king Kristian II who was king over the Kalmar Union. The union was made up of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. While king Kristian II in Denmark is referred to as the hero king he is in Sweden called Kristian the tyrant. To strengthen the grip over the Swedes Kristian lured the leading members of the Swedish administration to a meeting in the central square of Stockholm and slayed over 100 opponents.

Gustav Vasa managed to flee and made his way to Mora to seek the support from the rich mine and forest nobility in the area. This is the historical background to one of the most famous long ski races, Vasa race (Vasaloppet). He got the support he needed and could be named king of Sweden 1523 and with that ended the Kalmar union that had lasted for almost 150 years.

Know the past to understand the present, ha de Gött!
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Inner child

Inner child

I need the connection
to my inner child
playful and curious boy
where every walk an 
endless adventure

not a three year old bully 
throwing a tantrum
in jealous want to 
cheating and stealing

I fear the grown up child
with to many expensive toys
mind of a three year old
our world as playground

fear silence
turn away eyes
from scared followers
in sandbox of simple messages

I want to be the boy 
who willingly sharing 
make a new friend just 
to see someone else smile

Let the innocent child out
laugh, dance, sing in the snow
life's miracle in every grain of sand
filling the beach of truth
with a heart larger than life

Svensk version (Swedish version)

Mitt inre barn
jag vill vara i kontakt 
med barnet i mitt sinne
en lekfullt nyfiken pojke
där varje promenad 
ett evigt äventyr

inte treåringens tyranni
som skrika och tjuta
i rå avundsjuk vilja
som stjäla och rova

jag räds det vuxna barnet
med för många dyra leksaker
tänker som en treåring
med världen som lekplats

räds tystnaden
bortvända blickar
från rädda följeslagare
i enkla budskapens sandlåda

jag vill vara pojken
som delar med mig
hittar en ny vän bara
för att få se ett annat leende

släpp ut det oskyldiga barnet
skratta, dansa och sjung i snön
se livets mirakel i varje sandkorn
på strandens korn för sanning
med ett hjärta större än livet

Swedish version with help from my son Wendel.

Be like a child but don’t be childish, ha de Gött!
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Blind

Blind

Blind
Sometimes wish, I was blind
Untouchable by darkness
Walking the only, one road
Guided by an inner light

Steer me right
In life’s pathless journey
Herded by a shepherd
Holding, rod of confidence

The storming roar of uncertainty
By lighthouse foghorn silenced
A ship softly rolling
Safe at harbour

With a child’s clear eyes
See doubt turn silent
Land me in blind
Faith
Blind (Svensk version)
Önskar ibland, jag vore blind
Onåbar, av mörker
Vandrande den enda vägen
Vägledd, av inre ljus

Styr mig rätt 
På livets stiglösa färd
Av en herde ledd
Trygg med sin stav

Ovisshetens stormande vrål
av fyrens mistlur vyssjad
Ett fartyg som rullar mjukt
I trygg hamn

Med barnets klara ögon
Se tvivlet tiga still
Landa mig i blind
Tro

Keep the faith, ha de Gött!
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Motive, opportunity, intent

Motive, opportunity, intent

Ejdgesjön, Bohuslän Sweden

As a landscape photographer you sometimes feel like a detective in a crime novel. There are some apps available to guide you but if you want to find the unexpected you have to go out there and detect.

Finding the motive will take you on many dirty back roads. On the major roads you will create long lines of angry, honking drivers. Wonder what that middle finger in the air means? If you find a parking spot you struggle onwards through dense forests and muddy paths in thunder and rain.

It it’s all worth it when you find that spot. Makes your heart pump with joy, or is it trying to catch up from the walk? There it is, but what do you want to tell with this scene, what is the intent? You walk back and forth like a nervous first time dad in the delivery room. You realise you’re talking loud to yourself. Looking around for the guys with the long sleaved white jacket.

Finally you find a good angle. Then you realise you miss the final ingredient, the perfect light! Will the clouds clear, will the sun shine? You could wait for that perfect opportunity, but then you should not have sat down in an anthill!

I have to plead guilty to this passion, ha de Gött!
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Christmas greetings

Christmas greetings

We stand there like a Christmas tree, strong, tall, bright and joyful. Then it all starts.

In Sweden we hand out all presents on Christmas eve and we get to see Santa handing them out in person! Well that’s everyone except all dads that for some strange reason all go out to buy the newspaper, or nowadays go to the basement to fix the WiFi. Being a dad I now own a fair share of newspapers, hoo, hoo. Poor Santa soon has to rush off to the Anglo Saxon world. Squeeze through an old chimney and put presents in old, hopefully washed, socks for Christmas Day morning.

Luckily we gave him some real dark Christmas brew and one or two schnaps before he went off. Now both he and Rudolph has a red nose lighting up the night as he flies with super sonic speed over the skies.

Wonder if he feels like the bottle in this last picture after Christmas? I know I do!

Don’t forget why, ha de Gött and Merry Christmas!
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