This year, Reykjavík – the UNESCO City of Literature, celebrates its tenth anniversary. It was announced that Reykjavík would be the fifth city in the world to get that title when Iceland was the guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2011. The year before, the city poet Tómas Guðmundsson (1901-1983) sat on a bench by Reykjavíkurtjörn, and he sits there still, bringing happiness to everyone who walks past. Not far from the statue, in Reykjavík City Hall, two verses from two of Tómas’ poems, Júnímorgun and Við Vatnsmýri, are edged on windows at the eastern and western entrances to the building. Few poets had made Reykjavík their source material before Tómas. He was a pioneer in that regard and thus often called the city poet of Reykjavík.
Reykjavík 11/10/2021 07:42 – A7R IV: FE 2.8 / 100 GM
Photo and text: Páll Stefánsson
