The Poems of Anton B. SANDER (Part 1)

Along with the original handwritten manuscripts of Anton SANDER's poems there was also a typed document containing several, but not all, of the poems. A handwritten note on the cover page indicates that it may have been typed by Anton's sister, Ellen Marie (SANDER) Bakke. If she is the typist, then this document had to have originated before 1936, the year of her death.


Anton SANDER. Poems (Cover page). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

None of the manuscripts of the poems are dated. Since Anton died in 1881, if the poems were actually written by him, they obviously must have been written prior to that date. They will be presented in the order that they appear in the typed document with the remainder simply in the order they were scanned. Further none of them have been translated into English, a job certainly better suited to someone other than me.

The first poem begins with the line, "For himmeriges land maa man kjæmpe." Using Google Translate this roughly means, "For the kingdom of country one must contend." The images of the manuscript are below followed by the images of the typed version.

 
 
Anton B. SANDER, "For himmeriges land," manuscript (Bef. 1881). Images courtesy of Verla Williams. 

Notice there is an envelope taped onto the third page of the typed document with some biographical information about Anton SANDER. I have also included an additional page so the reader could see the reverse of the envelope.

 
 
Anton B. SANDER. "For himmeriges land," typed version. Images courtesy of Verla Williams.

The Poems of Anton B. SANDER (Part 2)

The next two poems appear as if they may have been intended to have been sung. The first line of the first one is, "Kom, Sjael, at gaa til Bethlehem." This translates roughly as, "Come, Soul, go to Bethlehem." Below are the images of the manuscript (front and back):

 
Anton B. SANDER. "Kom, Sjæl, at gaa til Bethlehem," manuscript (Bef. 1881). Images courtesy of Verla Williams.

The following image is the typed version:


Anton B. SANDER. "Kom, Sjæl, at gaa til Bethlehem," typed version. Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

The second one is entitled "Efter Lucas 2, 10-14," which translates as "After Luke 2: 10-14," part of the Christmas story. The NIV of these verses reads as follows:

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Below are the images of the manuscript (front and back):


Anton B. SANDER. "Efter Lucas 2, 10-14," manuscript (Bef. 1881). Images courtesy of Verla Williams.

The following image is the typed version:


Anton B. SANDER. "Efter Lucas 2, 10-14," typed version. Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

The following poem is on the last page of the typed document and is in English. The first line reads, "A boy went out to shoot one day."


Anton B. SANDER. "A boy went out to shoot one day," typed version. Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

The Poems of Anton B. SANDER (Part 3)

The next poem scanned begins with the line, "Da vi med suk i støvet sad." Very roughly translated, this means, "When we sigh in the dust."


Anton B. SANDER. "Da vi med suk i støvet sad," manuscript (Bef. 1881). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

The following one begins, "Jesus kommer i kommer nu," or in English, "Jesus is coming now."

 
Anton B. SANDER. "Jesus kommer i kommer nu," manuscript (Bef. 1881). Images courtesy of Verla Williams.

The next poem appears to have a title at the top of the page that reads, "Mit kjæreste Barn bed for go med mig." Again roughly translated this means, "My dearest child go to bed with me." Also of interest is that the initials, "B. S." appear at the end of the poem on the reverse side. Was this poem actually written by Anton's father, Brede Sander, or brother, Brede Sander, Jr.?


Anton B. SANDER? "Mit kjæreste Barn bed for go med mig," manuscript (Bef. 1881). Images courtesy of Verla Williams.

Next there is a short poem that begins, "O kjære Gud lad alting lykkes." In English this is roughly, "O dear God let everything succeed."


Anton B. SANDER. "O kjære Gud lad alting lykkes," manuscript (Bef. 1881). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Finally we have a poem entitled, "Sky Saloonen." It would be interesting to have this translated as the title appears to mean, "Sky (or maybe shy) Saloon (or Lounge)."


Anton B. SANDER. "Sky Saloonen," manuscript (Bef. 1881). Images courtesy of Verla Williams.

Death of Anton B. SANDER

Anton SANDER died on 23 Jan 1881 at the young age of 29 and was buried 25 Jan. Nelson (1961: 109) stated that his career was cut short by illness, but offered no specifics as to what type of illness. As of yet, we have not been able to obtain a death certificate from New York, however, recently a search on Ancestry.com turned up a death and burial record from Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, NY.


Burial record (Brooklyn, NY: Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 1881). Anton Sander, Dr. Ph. Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.