lífsgæðavísum

Lífsgæðavísur (life-quality verses) is a term in Icelandic literary discourse describing a contemporary poetic tradition that centers on the quality of life and human well-being. The tradition encompasses poems that explore everyday happiness, social solidarity, mental health, environmental sustainability, and the relationship between individuals and community. The scope is broad, including intimate first-person meditations as well as socially engaged lyrics that speak to collective experience.

Form and style in lífsgæðavísur are varied. Poems may employ free verse or traditional stanzaic forms, with an emphasis on accessible language and clear imagery. Recurring motifs often draw on Icelandic landscapes—sea, mountains, and rural life—as well as urban environments and everyday routines. While the content tends toward the hopeful and reflective, poets also address tension, adversity, and resilience, linking private well-being to public or policy concerns.

Origins and development of the term appear in late 20th- to early 21st-century Icelandic literary criticism, amid debates about welfare, social policy, and environmental responsibility. The tradition is not tied to a single school or fixed meter; rather, it is defined by its thematic focus on quality of life and its openness to different poetic approaches. Critics note its role in expanding poetry’s social function and in providing a language for public discourse about well-being.

See also:

- Icelandic literature

- Poetry

- Quality of life

- Social poetry

- Environmental poetry