Edited by Alastair Walker, Eric Hoekstra, Goffe Jensma, Wendy Vanselow, Willem Visser and Christoph Winter
[NOWELE Supplement Series 33] 2022
► pp. 27–42
Jens Mungard’s poem Min Bloom is often thought to be the author’s statement that he – by comparing himself with a sea holly – saw himself as an outsider in the community. Some of Mungard’s letters show that he wished to use the “sea holly” as a pseudonym. As one of these letters contains the poem Min Bloom, it is in this case possible that there is a connection between the author and the lyrical speaker. This poem does, however, slightly differ in its original form from the one which is best known today. One changed word modifies the statement of an individual who is excluded from the community. There are three other poems in which Mungard wrote about the sea holly. A comparison of the four poems shows that the lyrical speaker compares and identifies himself with this plant. The sea holly becomes a link between history and the present, it is deep-rooted and can brave outside influences. The lyrical speaker gains strength and comfort from this identification.
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Nachlass Jens Mungard: R2 Mungard E., Archiv des Nordfriisk Instituut.
Briefe von J. Mungard an H. Schmidt
Schmidt-Rodenäs, K. o. D. Manuskriptsammlung