Krummi svaf í klettagjá



"Krummi svaf í klettagjá" is a traditional Icelandic rhyming poem by Jón Thoroddsen about a raven. The poem was written in the middle of the 19th century and is in 6 line stanzas of AABCCB form. In Iceland it is often repeated as part of a well known folk song

The opening verse can be roughly translated as follows: Krummi svaf í klettagjá, kaldri vetrarnóttu á, verður margt að meini Fyrr en dagur fagur rann, freðið nefið dregur hann undan stórum steini. The raven sleeps among the stones on a cold winter night. (There is much to be said) Before the passage of a fine day He pulls his nose from a large rock.