"a parallel universe" Trondheim by Faracy

My grandfather spoke very limited Norwegian even though he was possibly the proudest Norwegian in all on Minnesota "which is saying quite a lot." The reason for this were the arguments his parents got into over their distinct manners of speaking Norwegian. My great-grandfather was from Drammen, in the South of Norway near Oslo, while my great-grandmother was from Trondheim, in the South of the Tronderlag. Petter did not like Emily's thick Tronder L's and unspoken D's, so she made the unfortunate decision to stop speaking Norwegian all together. Norwegian was limited to prayers, food, and naughty words.

I had the strange luck to meet a man from Trondheim, not aware at the time that my great-grandmother was from there, only that she was from a different part of Norway than her husband. I know this may sound cliche, but this man instantly felt like family to me. Having only just met, it felt as if I'd known him my entire life. I spent two weeks in Trondheim, and it too had an instant familiarity. It was if I'd gone home in a parallel universe. Me being originally from Minnesota, home to one of the largest "Tronder" populations outside of the Tronderlag, it shouldn't have been such a surprise.

I can say I had a splendid time, and haven't been so unabashedly joyful in years. I laughed more there than I can remember laughing in a very long time. There's a particular dry, dark humor which seems to come from the Tronderlag and translated itself quite fluently into the Minnesota heart.

where I slept the sleep of angels (view from Lade)

"White Night"

Cold white
sleepful nights
with lips pressed to your back

kisses

Auburn curls over pillows
embraced
into soft flesh

safety

In this temporal beauty
silence
let us not speak of nexts

life

now,
just now
is
perfect