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Poetry in the Cities of LiteratureAnna Rós Árnadóttir

We continue our introduction to the poets of the Icelandic City of Literature — Reykjavík Bókmenntaborg UNESCO — and their translators.

Today we would like to introduce you to the poet from Reykjavík, Anna Rós Árnadóttir.

Anna was born in Selfoss, Iceland, in 1998. She holds a bachelor’s degree in literature and creative writing and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in literature at the University of Iceland. She is one of the four members of the poetry collective MÚKK. In 2025, Anna received the Ljóðstafur Jóns úr Vör Poetry Prize for her poem Skeljar (“Shells”).

We invite you to listen to this poem in Icelandic and enjoy the phonetic beauty of this wonderful language.


Shells(Skeljar)
Translated by Larissa Kyzer

all houses
are houses by the sea
if only you follow the plumbing
far enough

sometimes
when she kneels on
the cold tiles
she feels like she can hear
the faint echo of
birdcalls
from the toilet bowl

and that makes her think of the story
about the sailor
whose death at sea had been foretold
and so he shipped his oars
moved as far inland
as he possibly could
stopped eating seafood
altogether
mistrusting
each and every
damp stone
on his path

until one day
he fell asleep on the watch
offered two shipwrecked sailors
a place to stay for the night

she thinks about their oilskins
hanging from pegs on the wall
thewaterdripping
onto the mudroom floor
throughout the night

about the inert face
of the man in the puddle
atdawn

to live
is to fall asleep on the watch

to die
is to fall asleep on the watch

like a beetle
she thinks
surveying
the sole of a shoe

like a woman
whose death at sea
has been foretold
and yet she still moves
into a house
covered in shells


This project was created by the office of “Odessa — UNESCO City of Literature” and is being implemented with funds collected by the Reykjavík City of Literature as part of readings initiated by the Milan City of Literature Not Just Words (Readings for Odessa) on February 24, 2024.

Illustration

© Created by Odesa Unesco City of Literature

Website created with the support of Ukrainian Cosmopolis

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Illustration

© Created by Odesa Unesco City of Literature

Website created with the support of Ukrainian Cosmopolis

All rights Reserved