In judging all the enlightening limericks entered in the 6th Annual Lefse Limerick Contest (thanks to all who entered), a lightbulb went off in my head. It was a big “ah-ha” as to why lefse is so lovable.
I thought I knew why after decades of living the sweet lefse life. I mean, I have written three books on lefse and have taught lefse classes as well as demonstrated lefse rolling and spoken on lefse at countless markets and meetings. I have heard loads of lefse stories from what may be a battalion of the best lefse makers west of Bergen.
It had become clear to me that lefse is so lovable because it offers equal portions of great taste and great tradition. This tradition provides stability, belonging, and connection across generations. There is comfort, structure, and a shared identity with lefse. The act of making lefse reduces anxiety by providing predictable, meaningful rituals that connect us to our past and strengthen family and community bonds.
But my big “ah-ha” moment was not about taste and tradition. As I read limericks about lefse and hope, this year’s theme, it dawned on me that lefse itself lifts us up. Folks can be down and disagreeable — locking horns about you name it — but they leave all acrimony at the door when they share lefse. It’s like we enter a lefse bubble. We are less cynical, more kind, more tolerant, more optimistic.
We need lots of all that, and the limericks below deliver … with just the right touch of humor and irreverence, as only limericks can do.
1st – Dave Nadaskay, Fort Worth, Texas
It seems the world has need of late
For one of Lefse’s hidden traits.
There is always some Hope
To help you to cope
When you add a warm round to your plate.
If your Hope is bound up, not grooving
And you dream of the future improving,
When taken as tonic
Just like a colonic
Warm Lefse can keep your life moving.
1st – Jim Leet, Roseburg, Oregon
Good Lefse is God’s comfort food.
It mellows a bad attitude
It gives you real hope,
Endorsed by the Pope
And gives life an uplifted mood.
An item of faith is the spud
When planted each spring in the mud.
With Lefse the goal
It lifts up your soul,
With hope nipping dread in the bud.
2nd – Peter Holbrook, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sven came to the end of his rope
All the girls in his life told him “nope.”
On his dates he was bringin’
Fresh lefse and lingon.
Ain’t workin’, but Sven lives in hope.
They say that it’s darkest ‘ere dawn.
So if you fear that all hope is gone,
Don’t let the light sputter
Eat lefse with butter
And all will be better, anon.
2nd – Jim Gambucci, Minneapolis, Minnesota
As long as there’s lefse there’s hope
That strangers can still learn to cope
With each other’s weird diets
And decide that “Just try it!”
Will always work better than “Nope.”
Can lefse bring Norwegians hope?
Can’t see it. My first thought was, “Nope.”
Then I thought, “Oh my word!
Stranger things have occurred.
We have an American Pope.”
3rd – John Ofstehage, Shorewood, Minnesorta
Lassie grabbed my sleeve like glue.
“Timmy’s in the well!” was the clue.
Well, I ain’t got no rope,
But this lefse, I hope,
Will help him survive ’til I do!
Will this mess go on forever?
We need some hope to weather,
The storm that arises
And all new surprises.
Lefse might unite us together.
3rd – Mardi Knutson, Ely, Minnesota
Confident he’d conquer world strife
Erik thus exclaimed to his wife,
“We’ll pass lefse around,
World peace will be found,
Well-fed folks will have a good life!”
In a higher power Lars did believe,
World peace he was sure he’d achieve.
With flour and cream
He rolled out his dream,
Sharing lefse the plan he conceived.
3rd – Susan and Loren Jerde, Aberdeen, South Dakota
I hope that my lefse is tender.
If there’s a hole, I hope I can mend ‘er.
I’m not asking much,
Just a nice Grandma touch,
Hoping for a nice roll I can send her.
Away on a hilltop an old lady sat,
Her rolling pin smoothing out lefse so flat.
Full of hope and good cheer,
She poured hubby some beer,
Then they guzzled, chowed down, and got fat.
