4. _Avesta fors_--this locates the scene of the poem near the old copper
works at the great and little falls (_Storforsen_ and _Lillforsen_) in
_Dalälven_, the main river flowing through the poet's native province of
_Dalarna_ (Dalecarlia). The old works were recently replaced by a large
steel plant, iron ore being also abundant in this old copper region. Cf.
line 6, _hällarnas järn_.
15. As indicated here and in the title, this is a lyrical farewell to
the poet's native scenes.
22. _stenen_--a monument commemorating the battle of _Brunnbäck_ (also
written _Brunbäck_). Here the peasant army of Gustav Vasa in 1521 gained
their first victory over the Danish forces of King Christian sent from
Stockholm under command of Gustav Trolle to put down the movement for
Swedish independence. The victory was celebrated in a ballad
(_Dalvisan_) which says:
_Så körde vi jutar (Danes)i Brunbäcks älv,
så vattnet dem porlade om.
Vi sörjde däröver, att Kristian själv
ej där tillika omkom_.