Almanac Poetry: The Anni-Frid, Björn, Benny and Agnetha Syndrome
Chillon Castle, a Swiss island castle visited by Lord Byron – about which he wrote a poem called The Prisoner of Chillon in 1816. [Source: Wikimedia Commons.]
The Anni-Frid, Björn, Benny and Agnetha Syndrome
Every Scandinavian,
at some point in their lives,
has a perfect body
and their seventies popstars
live in sixteenth century castles
in the Alps where Byron and Shelley raved,
summer at St. Tropez, Portofino,
with faded European royalty,
retired Ferrari executives,
bronzed embezzlers in sailing suits
and topless-sunbathing pendulous-breasted
middle-aged Italian
fashion house heiresses,
breed racehorses, become
art experts, wine connoisseurs
and look more elegant now
than at the height of their fame.
St Tropez Harbour, France, 2009. [Source: Wikimedia Commons.]
(Acknowledgments: first published in Tamba, 2008; then in my second book-length collection, Lionheart Summer, in 2011, reprinted by Ginninderra Press, 2018.)
Read more from Kevin Densley HERE
Kevin Densley’s latest poetry collection, Sacredly Profane, is available HERE
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Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His sixth book-length poetry collection, Isle Full of Noises, was published in early 2026 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
Great work Kevin. Ah, those ice cool Swedes. I like this syndrome. I wish I could catch it.
Thanks, DB.
I agree – I’d like some of what they’ve got!