Here you will find the Poem Lector thaasen of poet Bjornstjerne Bjornson
I read once of a flower that lonely grew, Apart, with trembling stem and pale of hue; The mountain-world of cold and strife Gave little life And less of color. A botanist the flower chanced to see And glad exclaimed: Oh, this must sheltered be, Must seed produce, renewing birth, In sun-warmed earth Become a thousand. But as he dug and drew it from the ground, Strange glitterings upon his hands he found; For to its roots clung dust of golden hue; The flower grew On golden treasure! And from the region wide came all the youth To see the wonder; they divined the truth: Here lay their country's future might; A ray of light From God that flower!- This I recall now even while I mourn; The Lord of life has lifted him and borne From mountain-cold and wintry air To fruitage fair In warmth eternal. For where the roots were of that life replete, What gleams and glitters! See, they ran to meet The shafts of wisdom's goodly mines, The gold that shines In veins of God's thought. Now he is lifted up, to light are brought The riches he to guard so faithful sought. The treasures of our past are there, And glintings rare Of future riches. Come, Norway's youth! Unearth to use the hoard That round this heaven-borne flower's roots was stored! To you his message! Hear and heed! Achieve in deed His dream and longing!
