EPIC ICELAND
Thundering wondrous waterfalls,
gurgling geysers,
black lava fields.
Pale green moss,
basalt column gorges.
In the North,
the humpbacks
blow and dive
flashing flukes,
breaching close enough
sending waves of water
into our boat.
Surrounded by oceans,
cool waters from the Arctic,
shoals of cod and herring.
Now on the table,
In the herring museum,
six concoctions
of marinated herring
and lamb for meat eaters.
Reaching the East coast
Steep sea shore hillsides
dotted with puffin burrows;
they dive down to fish
successfully returning,
beaks full of sand eels
Geothermal lagoons,
swimming pools,
hot tubs and water slides.
Deliciously cool and pure
Icelandic drinking water.
Busy farmers harvesting
hay in white plastic wrap.
Hydroponic greenhouses
buzzing with dutch pollinating bees,
tasty tomatoes and strawberries.
Serving delicious tomato soup.
The eggs of Merry Bay;
Thirty four shiny
multicolored granite
eggs shaped perfectly
representing native birds.
Petra's hobby,
A rock collection became
an enrapturing garden.
Geodes, flowers, sculptures
fountains, perfectly placed together,
inviting thousands of visitors.
Herds of Icelandic ponies,
black and white sheep
Slowly cross roads
and wander around
in the hills and valleys.
Black sandy beaches.
blocks of ice diamonds.
Glaciers sliding down
Blue and white icebergs
and freezing lakes
for seals and ducks.
Pure white swans
flock to the warm lake.
Ferry across,
reaching volcanic expanding
island of friendly people.
Playing golf at night,
hanging out in hot tubs
and steaming pools,
ready to eat, drink and laugh.
Camping in the crater,
climbing up to the rim,
the sheep waiting and chewing,
greeting the tired climbers.
All along our way
fellow campers
have their stories:
Chinese driving through Asia,
then Europe and ferry here,
returning through Europe to Africa.
The retired English baker,
hitchhiking for his tenth summer
here in Iceland.
Stories of hitchhiking
through the USA.
The Polish camp manager,
visiting worker,
selling her friend’s blueberry cake,
loving dark quiet winters
and Aurora Borealis nights.
For now a brief sunset,
maybe around 10 pm,
by 4 am light arrives again.
Occasionally the grey clouds
allow sun and blue sky
to make brief appearances.
Weather changes fast,
rain coming and going.
We kept driving, moving
to the next volcano or glacier
or steaming mud or hot tub,
or fish and chips
or rhubarb pie.
To the simple church
alone on the shoreline,
then finally completing the circle,
at the airport once again.
©MartinStrasmore2025
Thanks. I hope this poem painted a picture of the dramatic landscapes of Iceland. To actually see what we saw please go to my website thewalkingpoet.net, and you can also see my book around Iceland, a family trip on the Ring Road. This is available as a PDF or printed copy at blurb.com.
https://www.blurb.com/b/12547137-iceland-travelling-the-ring-road
