She arrived alone.
An ocean away from her homeland
heart strong, with eagerness of empty hands.
Her name was Gunda
from the land of the Vikings
after legendary women of indomitable spirit.
What ways of living did she hold close
while settling in season after season
birthing babies her mother would never meet?
Did she ever regret leaving the nest
for this new unknown tree, after
she arrived alone?
© Ali Grimshaw 2025
This poem is in honor of my great-grandmother who came, by herself, to the U.S. from Norway when she was 18 years old. I don't know much about her but writing this made me curious and now I have fallen down a rabbit hole of websites to learn more.
The photo is a mural from Hillsboro, Oregon.
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flashlight batteries - Ali Grimshaw 
She arrived alone.
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Thank you for reading.
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“birthing babies her mother would never meet”
That line says so much about the enormity of the decisions your g-grandmother made. A whole generation without grandparents and new mothers without their parents to help and advise. Enjoy learning more about your ancestors.
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I cannot imagine doing what my great grandmother did. I wish I knew more about what led her to this choice.
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts .
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She sounds very brave indeed. Good luck with your search!
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There there are so many brave people in the world. It is inspiring to think about the courage of others. Thanks for stopping by.
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I think our grandparents and ancestors leave us with gifts and burdens, and I agree Ali how important it is to know about them. We all have a wonderful opportunity to live differently now, but more importantly honour the gifts they have given us. 💞💕🌈
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My grandparents worked so very hard, harder than I have ever worked in my life.
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I love this and I love exploring the spiritual connections we have with those who’ve gone before us Sent from my iPhone
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Chere, thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I feel a spiritual connection to my ancestors, but I never really thought of it that way until you left your comment. Thank you.
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One can only hope that the new generation raised abroad would be able to reconnect with their kinsmen and heritage. That’s my hope for my own.
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There are so many ways to connect, and if we are determined, we will find a way. Wishing you a lovely day.
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I shared this fine work with My (ancestry-obsessed) Beloved Sandra. We BOTH marveled. Thanks
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Ron, thank you for the honor of sharing this with me. Writing about Gunda brought her to life for me.
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Ali, such a beautiful poem about a woman whose strengths are embodied in you. I often feel may grandmothers and great-grandmothers were gone too soon. Stories about them become the legends we carry as we seek ourselves. 💜
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Carrie, thank you for reflecting back on how you see me. This is a huge gift. I am grateful for you, my friend.
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💜🙏🏻
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There are so many stories with people who has left everything to resettle… and maybe there are reasons when we cannot go back. Have never met anyone with that name here in Sweden though
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I am captivated by those who choose to leave and those who are forced to leave their homeland to make a new life elsewhere.
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This is a beautiful tribute to your ancestor. I hope you are able to find out more. It sounds like you have a good start. I can’t imagine sailing an ocean and leaving my family–no phones, letters taking months to travel. So many people did it, and still do.
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That is one of the things I have given a lot of thought to. Back then, moving to another country was a final goodbye. Most people never returned.
Thank you again for the prompt. It was a gift to my day.
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You’re very welcome, Ali!
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A beautiful tribute 🩷
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Thank you kindly.
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Ali, what a wonderful mural. I hope you learn about your ancestor if it will ease your mind’s curiosity.
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Lisa, I adore murals and photograph them whenever I can. Have a beautiful day.
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I have some experience doing genealogical research. If you’d like some help, email me.
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Thank you for your kind offer. I will.
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There are so many questions I wish I’d asked my Grandmother. Your poem reflects those regrets.
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I guess we are left to wondering and our own imagination. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
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Lovely poem and reflection Ali 💐. I’m also curious, did she meet someone here and settle down and create a new family or did she remain alone and/or strong? What aspect of her is within you? 💞
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Well, I found out that Gunda got married and had four children, one of which is the grandmother I grew up with. She was a fun, feisty and strong hearted woman. I see parts of her in me. Thank you so much for asking the questions.
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