Nature
The Hare and the Fox
Translated by Arthur Hubbell Palmer (1915) · From Poems and Songs (1870; Palmer 1915)
The fox lay still by the birch-tree's root
In the heather.
The hare was running with nimble foot
O'er the heather.
Was ever brighter a sunshine-day,
Before, behind me, and every way,
O'er the heather!
The fox laughed low by the birch-tree's root
In the heather.
The hare was running with daring foot
O'er the heather.
I am so happy for everything!
Hallo! Why go you with mighty spring
O'er the heather?
The fox lay hid by the birch-tree's root
In the heather.
The hare dashed to him with reckless foot
O'er the heather.
May God have mercy, but this is queer! --
Good gracious, how dare you dance so here
O'er the heather?
Codex Note
From Synnove Solbakken
Cite this poem
MLA
Bjørnson, Bjørnstjerne. “The Hare and the Fox.” Translated by Arthur Hubbell Palmer. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/bjornson/1/.
Chicago
Bjørnson, Bjørnstjerne. “The Hare and the Fox.” Translated by Arthur Hubbell Palmer. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/bjornson/1/.
Read this poem with the Codex →