MODERN SCANDINAVIAN POETRYTHE PANORAMA OF POETRY 1900 - 1980

in Kalaallit-Nunaat (Greenland), Iceland, The Faroe Islands,Denmark, Saame Poetry, Norway,

Sweden, and Finland

English versionsby

Martin Allwood, Wystan Hugh Auden, Paul Britten Austin.Frederic Fleisher, Thord Fredenholm, Robin Fulton.

Keth Laycock, Robert Lyng, and others

Introductionsby

Kristinn Johannesson. Inge Knutsson, Kai Laitinen.Finn Stein Larsen. Helmer Lang, Israel Ruong.

and Eilif Straume

Second, Revised Edition

GENERAL EDITORMartin Allwood

EAGLEYE BOOKS INTERNATIONALPERSONA PRESS

CONTENTS

KALAALL1T-NUNAAT (GREENLAND)

Henrik Lund (Indaleraq) (1875 - 1948)Nunarput — Our country 35

Villads Villadsen (1916 - )AviSja and his family 35

Arkaluk LyngeThis is our country (Tourist publicity) 37

Malik

restlessness 37

ICELAND

Introduction by Kristinn Johannesson 41

Sigurdur Sigurdsson (1879 - 1939)ChristmasEve (Jolakvold) 45

Magnus Stefansson (Orn Arnarson) (1884 - 1942)Chickens (Haensi) 45The journey (Langferd) 46The hussy (Ekkjan) 46

David Stefansson (1895 - 1964)The shadow (Skugginn) 47

Johannes ur Kotlum (1899 - 1972)Prayer (Been) 47

Tomas Gudmundsson (1901 — )Theharbor (Vid hofnina) 48

Halldor Laxness (1902 - )She was all that you loved (Hun var thad alt, sem thu unnir) 49

Gudmundur Bodvarsson (1904 - 1974)Brother (Brodir) 49

Snorri Hjartarson (1906 — )The roads are waiting deserted (Audir bfda vegirnir) 50The days have come (Komnir eru dagarnir) 50

Steinn Steinarr (1908 - 1958)Children at play (Born ad leik) 51

13

Marble (Marmari) 51Verdun (Verdun) 51Sea (Haf) 52A poem about Christ (Kvaedi um Krist) 52White horse in the moonlight (Hvitur hestur f tunglskini) 53The staircase (Stiginn) 53

Kristjan fra Djupaloek (1916 - )To the memory of a poet (I minningu skSlds) 54

J6n ur Vdr (1917 - )The bird is faithful (Fuglinn er trur) 54Rest your wing (Hvil thu vaeng thinn) 55

Stefan Hordur Grimsson (1920 - )In the evening (A kvoldin) 55Dance on the sand (Dans & sandi) 55

JdnOskar (1921 - )Search (Leit ad fegurd) 56

Einar Bragi (1921 - )Fiery steeds (Sporgladir hestar) 57Fame (Fraegd) 57

Hannes Sigfusson (1922 - )Africa (Afrfka) 57180thousand (180thiisundir) 58

Sig/us Dadason (1928 - )Take a gun in your hand (Taktu ther skammbyssu 1 hond) 58The roads of my country (Vegir lands mins) 59

SigurdurA. Magnusson (1928 — )Solzhenitsyn (Solzhenitsyn) 60

Matthias Johannessen (1930 - )The city laughed (Borgin hl6) 60

Hannes Petursson (1931 - )Dawn (Daegramot) 62From Bright nights (Bjort kvoid) 62Departure (Burtfor) 62Copernicus (Kopernikus) 63Talking to a tree in leaf fTalad vid laufgad tre) 63

Thorsteinn fra Hamri (1938 - )The visitor (Gesturinn) 63Settlement (Aflausn) 64Assistance (Lidsinni) 64In the field (I teignum) 65Staying out-of-doors (Komid ut undir bert loft) 65

Johann Hjalmarsson (1939 — )From the circus (Ur Fjolleikahusinu) 66

Thundur Gudmundsdottir (1939 - )Child (Barn) 66

Nina Bjork Arnaddttir (1949 - )We fall asleep again (Vid sofnum aftur) 67

14

THE FAROE ISLANDS

Introduction by Inge Knutsson 71

Christian Matras (1900 - )Snow light shone on the ground (Snj61ysi st6d av flotum) 73

William Heinesen (1900 - )Temple storm (Tempelstorm) 73Darkness speaks to the flowering bush (Morket taler til den

blomstrende busk) 74A thousand masts in rain (Tusinder master i regn) 74Winter lights its fires on our mountains (Vinteren taender

sine blus pa vore bjerge) 75Writing on a frozen window-pane (Skrift pa frossen rude) 75

KeginDah/(1918-)Girl in a window (Genta vid vindeygad) 76Windy summer (Vindsamt summar) 76

Napoleon Djurhuus (1928 - 1971)Jealousy (Jalousi) 77

Steinbjern Jacobsen (1937 — )Sheep (Seydur) 77

Gudrid Helmsdal- Nielsen (1941 - )Thaw night (Toybilskvold) 77

Hedin M. Klein (1950 - )Voice from life (Redd ur lfvinum) 78

DENMARK

Introduction by Finn Stein Larsen 81

Sophus Claussen (1865 - 1931)Dreams (Dromme) 87With those who are waiting (Hos de ventende) 87Imperia (Imperia) 88

Johannes V. Jensen (1873 - 1950)Theredtree (Det rode tree) 89The wandering girl (Pigen der vandrer) 90The earth and light (Jorden og lyset) 91

Theger Larsen (1875 - 1928)Sunshine in a room (Solskin i en stue) 94

Otto Gelsted (1888 - 1968)April 9th (Den niende april) 95The hammer of the Lord (Herrens hammer) 95

Allan Bock (1890 - )Already as a boy (Allerede som dreng) 96

Hans Hartvig Seedorff (1892 - ) .Sailor's drinking song (Rosvald) Music by N. Clemmensen 96

Tom Kristensen (1893 - 1974)Reborn (Genfodt) 97The drunkard (Drankeren) 98A purple dot (En purpurprik) 99

15

To my friend the poet Gustaf Munch-Petersen (Til min ven,digteren Gustaf Munch-Petersen) 99

Nis Petersen (1897 - 1943)Spring at Mariager Fjord (Forar ved Mariager Fjord) 99Do you love man? (Elsker du mennesket?) 100

Paul La Com ( 1902- 1956)Suburb (Forstad) 101The stranger (Den fremmede) 101

Jens August Schade (1903 - 1978)Me (Mig) 102Inga (Inga) 102Youthful longing (Ungdomslaengsel) 102

Sigfred Pedersen (1903 - 1967)Anthem to an inn (Hymne til et vaertshus) 103

PietHein (1905 - )Analysis of omnipotence (Almaegtighed) 104Conversation on the road (Samtale pa vejen) 104MoralGruk (Moralsk Gruk) 104LiteraryGruk (LitteraertGruk) 105Noble funerals arranged (Nobel bisaettelse besorges) 105Knotbad (Knotbad) 105

Gustaf Munch-Petersen (1912 - 1938)thought (tanke) lOfcprayer (bon) 106

Halfdan Rasmussen (1915 — )Sardine (Sardin) 106Shoalsoffish (Fiskestime) 107

Ove Abildgaard (1916 - )Navel (Navle) 107Inthebathtub (I badekarret) 108

Tove Ditlevsen (1918 - 1976)A mother's anguish (Moderangst) 108The eternal three (De evige tre) 109The snake in paradise (Slangen i paradiset) 110And it was a night like this (Og det var en nat) I l l

Orla Bundgard Povlsen (1918 - )The burning sea-Hon (Den braendende soleve) 112

Thorkild Bjernvig (1918 - )Here (Her) 112Interruption (Afbrydelse) 113

Jergen Nash (1920 - )Whoringsong (Horehymne) 114Poem to a brother (Broderdigt) 114

Ole Wivel (1921 - )Weep for Balder (Graed for Balder) 115Thefish (Fisken) 115

Ole Sarvig (1921 - )Beach scene (Strandbillede) 116The copper tree (Glaede) 116Grey rooms (Grakamre) 117

Morten Nielsen (1922 - 1944)The account (Redegcrelse) 117

16

Erik Knudsen (1922 - )My heart cries (Mit hjerte raber) 118The Eve of St. Bartholomew (Bartholomeusnat) 118All men want to be gods (Alle mennesker vil vaere guder) 119

Robert Corydon (1924 - )Twilight hour (Morkningstime) 119

Iljitsch Johannesen (1925 - 1957)Evening glow (Aftenrode) 120

Jergen Sonne (1925 - )It'syou (Deterdig) 121Adrift (Idrift) 122Race (Jaget) 122Other eyes — another world (Andre 0jne — anden verden) 122Northwest (Nordvest) 123

Lise Serensen (1926 — )Girl who is waiting (Pige, der venter) 123

Ivan Malinovski (1926 - )Critique of silence (Kritik af tavsheden) 123Critique of the way of the world (Kritik af verdens gang) 124Critique of reason (Kritik af fornuften) 124

Frank Jaeger (1926 - 1977)Handshake for Tony (Handslag til Tony) 124

Cecil Badker (1927 - )Grass (Graes) 125

Per Hejholt (1928 - )Traveling to the city (Pa vej til byen) 125

Vagn Steen (1928 - )atthispoint (pa dette sted) 126

Jergen Gustava Brandt (1929 - )Further in (Dybere ind) 127

Benny Andersen (1929 - )OnTerraFirma (Padetterre) 128Suck (Sut) 128Sound sleeper (Syvsover) 129The same (Den samme) 130The memories (Minderne) 130

Uffe Harder (1930 - )Express cable (Iltelegram) 131Late summer (Sen sommer) 131From here (Herfra) 131

Klaus Rifbjerg (1931 - )Midsummer (Midsommer) 132X-ray plate (Rontgen) 133

Jess 0msbo (1932 - )Soap hymn (Saebesalme) 134

Erik Stinus (1934 - )The Yogi speaks to Vasco da Gama (Yogien taler til Vasco da

Gama) 135Colony (Koloni) 136

Bent Irve (1934 - )Lazarus (Lazarus) 137The houses (Husene) 137Tracks (Spor) 138

17

Model (Modell) 138Inger Christensen (1935 — )

Like a slate-grey ocean (Som skifergrat hay) 139Whispering grass feet (Hviskende graesfcdder) 139From The text / Extensions (Fra Teksten / Extensioner) 140

Per Kirkeby (1938 - )The angel child paints (Englebarnet tegner) 140

Peter Poulsen (1940 - )the old age home at Hald (de gamles hjem i Hald) 141

Kirsten Bjernkjoer (1943 - )When the cat is out (Nar katten er ude) 142

Steen Kaale (1945 - )now and then we humans are quite peaceful (ind imellem

er vi mennesker helt rolige) 142Henrik Nordbrandt (1945 - )

Dream (Drom) 143While we are waiting (Mens vi venter) 144Letter (Brev) 144

Dan Turell (1946 - )An old Disney comic strip (En gammel Disney-serie) 145

SAAME POETRY

Introduction by Israel Ruong 149

NorwayIsak Saba (1875 - 1921)

From Sons of the sun (Sami soga lavla) 151Coardda Jomnna (Jon Eldar Einejord. 1939 — )

The Saame story of the creation 151SwedenPaulus Utsi (1918 - 1975)

Wounded generation (Havvaduvvun sakkagad'di) 153The calf sucks (Miessi) 153From Images (Govvadus) 153Love with pain (Reagganan rahkisvuohta) 154From Home country (Goattulai'dun) 154The yoik (Jui'gusa birra) 154Holy hill (Bassedievva) 155The new mountain waters 155The word (Sadni) 155

FinlandPedarJalvi (1888- 1916)

I run in the mountains 156Aslak Guttorm (1907 - )

From Saame speech 156Nils-Aslak Valkeapaa (1943 - )

I don't know why 156

18

NORWAY

Introduction by Eilif Straume 159

Knut Hamsun (1859 - 1962)Island off the coast (Skjaergaardso) 163

Nils Collett Vogt (1864 - 1937)Panisdead (Panerdod!) 164

Sigbjmrn Obstfelder (1866 - 1900)The rose (Rosen) 164Helga (Helga) 165Can the mirror speak? (Kan speilet tale?) 165Hymn (Salme) 166

Vilhelm Krag (1871 - 1933)The cry of a bird (Der skreg en fugl) 166

Kristoffer Uppdal (1878 - 1961)The starling (Staren) 166Working hard (Tungt i arbeid) 167The voice of the generations (/Ettarmaal) 167

Olav Aukrust (1883 - 1929)Bliss (Saele) 167A naked branch (Ei naki grein) 167

OlafBull (1883 - 1933)Powerful pain! (De store smerter) 168To the brave (Til de dristige) 168Tricks (Gjennemskuet) 169Theruin (Ruin) 169Chopin next door (Chopin i sidevaerelset) 170Over a glass of wine (Ved et glass vin) 170

Olav Nygard (1884 - 1924)My only song (Mitt einaste kvad) 171

AlfLarsen (1885 - 1967)The crows (Kraakerne) 171Walking in the night (Vandring i natten) 172

Herman Wildenvey (1886 - 1959)Nature (Natur) 173February dialogue (Februardialog) 173

Arnulf Overland (1889 - 1968)LittleAdam (LilleAdam) 175May 17, 1941 (17mail941) 176The servant (Tjeneren) 177

Gunnar Reiss- Andersen (1896 - 1964)Annunciation (Bebudelse) 178To the hearts (Til hjerterne) 178A shooting star (Et stjerneskudd) 179

Tarjei Vesaas (1897 - 1970)Snow and fir forests (Sn0 og granskog) 179Once upon a time (Det var eingong) 180The glass wall (Glasveggen) 180

Emit Boyson (1897 - 1979)Army hospital death (Lasarett-dod) 181

19

Contact useless (Kontakt frukteslos) 181Norwayl941 (Haer-tatt land) 182Before the ship sails (For skipet seiler) 182Oldage (Alderdommen) 183

Ernst Orvil (1898 - )Anuisance (Spetakkel) 183

Aslaug Vaa (1899 - 1965)Batletter (Skinnveng-brev) 183

Einar Skjoeraasen (1900 - 1966)ThewordofGod (Guds ord) 184

Rudolf Nilsen (1901 - 1929)The voice of the revolution (Revolusjonens rost) 185Christmas on the dole (Arbeidslos jul) 186Confession (Bekjennelse) 186Therival (Rivalen) 187

PerArneberg (1901 - )Heart and hands (Hjerte og hender) 187Shield your eyes (Verg dine 0yne) 188

Nordal Grieg (1902 - 1943)May 17, 1940 (17 mai 1940) 188Hope (Hapet) 189The sprinters (Sprinterne) 189

Sigmund Skard (1903 - )New York, N.Y. (New York, N.Y.) 190

ingerHagerup (1905 — )My love (Min elskede) 191Dieslrae (Dies Irae) 192Love itself must also die (Kjaerligheten skal ogsa do) 192Itrust - (Jegtror) -. 192We hold our life (Vi holder livet) 193The crazy boy (Den gale gutten) 193I am the poem (Jeg er det dikt) 193Emily Dickinson (Emily Dickinson) 194

Jacob Sande (1906 - 1967)Mary-Ann (Marian) 194

RolfJacobsen (1907 - )Pavement stones (Brosten) 195Landscape with excavators (L?ndskap med gravemaskiner) 196Blizzard (Tett snevaer) 196But we are alive (Men vi lever) 196Sorrowful towers (Sorgefulle tarn) 197

Halldis Moren Vesaas (1907 - )Happy hands (Lykkelige hender) 197

Olav H. Hauge (1908 - )The schoolyard (Skuleplassen) 198The weather-cock (Vindhanen) 199Today I saw (I dag sag eg) 199Thescythe (Ljaen) 200And I was sorrow (Og eg var sorg) 200

AsmundSveen (1910 - 1963)Black wings (Svarte vengar) 200

Aslaug Lygre (1910 - )I'm going to the night (Eg vil-ga til natta) 200

20

Hungry sea (Hungrande hav) 201Claes Gill (1910 - 1973)

Morning by the sea (Morgen ved havet) 202Vanishing youth (Flyktende ungdom) 202

Astrid Hjertenoes Andersen (1915 — )The poet recites his own poetry (Poeten resiterer eget dikt) 202

TorJonsson (1916-1951)Unborngod (Ufodd gud) 203The rapids (Fossen) 204

Aasmund Brynildsen (1917 - 1974)You are in my blood (Du er i mitt blod) 204

Andre Bjerke (1918 - )Light thoughts on a soap bubble (Lette betraktninger over

en sapeboble) 205To a determinist (Til en determinist) 205Thelittleman (Den lille man) 205Thelastjoy (Den siste glede) 206Hurry! (Det haster) 207Bill of rights (Menneskerettighetserklaering, 1. Valgrett) 207

Anbjorg Oldervik (1918 - )Oh, my beloved (A min elskede) 208

Hans Berli (1918 - )Makeba sings (Makeba synger) 208

Tormod Skagestad (1920 - )Theyearafter (Aretetter) 209

Jens Bjarneboe (1920 — 1976)The song of Hiroshima town (Vise om byen Hiroshima) 210We (Vi) 210

GunvorHofmo (1921 - )Thenight (Natten) 211

CarlFrederikPrytz (1922 - )The wind-bent (De vindskjeve) 212

Harald Sverdrup (1923 - )Kimono (Kimono) 213Flyingfish (Flyvefisk) 213Spitsbergen (Svalbard) 213

Paal Brekke (1923 - )Where all paths are lost (Der alle stier taper seg) 214EcceHomo (Eccehomo) 215

ArnljotEggen (1923 - )Village in an underdeveloped copuntry (Landsby i eit u-land) ... 215

Finn Bjernseth (1924 - 1973)We were the young shock troops (Vi var de unge storm-

troppene) 216Finn Streimsted (1925 - )

The stern hour (Den strenge timen) 216Sun bridge (Solbrygge) 216

Arnold Eidslott (1926 - )Three sermons (Tre prekener) 217Portrait of a girl (Pikeportrett) 217Sabbath (Sabbat) 217

Erling Christie (1928 - )Lone wolf (Ensom ulv) 218

21

Georg Johannesen (1931 — )First lesson (Forste lekse) 218Thefullmoon (Fullmanen) 218

Peter R. Holm (1931-)Granite (Granitt) 219

Kolbein Falkeid (1933 - )The horizons (Horisontene) 219

Ase-MarieNesse (1934 - )MarcChagall (Marc Chagall) 220

Stein Mehren (1935 - )Where the path ends (Der stien tar slutt) 220Gobelin-Europe (Gobelin Europa) 221CasaNova (CasaNova) 222

Ari/dNyquisr (1937-)Oh, Santa Claus! (Aaa, julenisse!) 223Fourbirds (Fire fugler) 223Under the sun (Under solen) 223Bumble-bee in bed (Humla i sengen) 224Apple stealing (Epleslang) 224

Tor Obrestad (1938 - )Song to art (Song til kunsten) 224

Jan Erik Void (1939 - )Oh, well (Naja) 225Itmeans (Det betyr) 225The day collapsed (Dagen fait sammen) 226

Einar 0kland (1940 - )I was there (Eg var der) 226

Tove Lie (1942 - )Afternoon verse (Eftermiddagsvers) 226

Helge Rykkja (1943 - )Sweden (Sverige) 227

PaaV Helge Haugen (1945 - )Didactic poem on dust (Laeredikt om stovet) 227

Jan-Erik Rekdal (1951-)Dublin — the city with the green mailboxes (Dublin — byen

med de gronne postkasser) 228

SWEDENIntroduction by Helmer Lang 233

Werner von Heidenstam (1859 - 1940)After a thousand years (Om tusen ar) 241From the Forest of Tiveden (Ur Tiveden) 241

Gustaf Froding (1860 - 1911)Three lasses were strolling (Dar gingo tre jantor) Music by Felix

Korling 242Grey rock song (Grabergssang) 243

Erik Axel Karlfeldt (1864 - 1931)The sea voyage of Jonah (Jone havsfard) Music by Nils

S6derstr6m 243Bo Bergman (1869 - 1967)

At a milestone (Vid en milsten) 244

22

Vilhelm Ekelund (1880 - 1949)For no one my verse (Jag diktar for ingen) 245

Anders Osterling (1884 - )Psalmodicon (Psalmodicon) 245Starry landscape (Landskap med stjarnor) 246

Birger Sjoberg (1885 - 1929)The time when first I saw you (Den forsta gang jag sag dig)

Music by Birger Sjoberg 246The green-eyed monster (Svartsjukans demon) Music by Birger

Sjoberg 247From Convention man (Ur Konferensman) 248

Ture Nerman (1886 - 1969)The finest of all of the love songs (Den vackraste visan om

karleken) Music by Lille Bror Soderlundh 251Harriet Lowenhjelm (1887 - 1918)

Beatrice-Aurore (Beatrice-Aurore) Music by HjalmarCasserman 252

Dan Andersson (1888 - 1920)Sailor Jansson (Jungman Jansson) Music by Dan Andersson ... 252Saturday night in the log cabin (Helgdagskvall i timmerkojan)

Music by Sven Scholander 253Epilogue (Epilog) 254Now darkens my way (Nu morknar min vag) 254

Bertil Malmberg (1889 - 1958)My room is no longer in my house (Mitt rum ar inte langre) 254

Evert Taube (1890 - 1976)Calle Schewen's waltz (Calle Schewens vals) Music by Evert

Taube 255Bride waltz (Brudvals) Music by Evert Taube 256Fritjof and Carmencita (Fritjof och Carmencita) Music by Evert

Taube 256The ox-driver's song (Oxdragarvisa) Music by Evert Taube .... 257The ocean never shimmered so bright (Sa skimrande var aldrig

havet) 258Par Lagerkvisf (1891 - 1974)

Anguish (Angest) 258Alettercame (Det kom ett brev) 259The sun is loosening her light blond hair (Nu loser solen sitt

blondahar) 259The people in the churchyard (Folket pa kyrkogarden) 260

Nils Hasselskog (1892 - 1936)Fall — A humoresque (Host — en humoresk) 260

Gabriel Jonsson (1892 - )Backafall lassie (Flicka fran Backafall) Music by Gunnar

Turesson 261Frans G. Bengtsson (1894 - 1954)

A ballad of the French king's bandsmen (En ballad om franskekungens spelman) Music by Gunnar Turesson 262

Uno Eng (1896 - 1972)Still life (Stilleben) 263

EbbeLinde.(1897-)In time with the rain (I takt med regnet) 263

Hjalmar Gullberg (1898 - 1961)

23

I'm planning to set out on a long journey (Jag tanker ge migut pa en lang resa) 263

The reflective country postman (Den tankande lant-brevbararen) 264

Thelake (Sjon) 265At Cape Sunium (Vid Kap Sunium) 265Wanted (Efterlyses) 266Dreadful accident (Svarartat olyckstillbud) 266

Nils Ferlin (1898 - 1961)In Arendorff's time (Pa Arendorffs tid) Music by Gunnar

Turesson 267Through a wall (Genom en vagg) 268Gethsemane (Getsemane) 268May I offer you some flowers (Far jag lamna nagra blommor)

Music by Lille Bror Soderlundh 269Astray (Vilse) Music by Lille Bror Soderlundh 269And not even — (Inte ens) 270Neutral (Neutral) 270A waltz-melody (En valsmelodi) Music by Lille Bror Soderlundh 270Ananimal (Ettkreatur) 271I could be ... (Jag kunde ju vara) 271With plenty of colored lanterns (Med manga kulorta lyktor) 272

Karin Boye (1900 - 1941)Prayer to the sun (Bon till solen) 272Night's deep violoncello (Nattens djupa violoncell) 273

Johannes Edfelt (1904 - )Spring sacrifice (Varoffer) 273Pain is the greatest sculptor (SmSrtan 3r en skulptor) 274Lifeoflife (Livets liv) 274Archaic image (Arkaisk bild) 275The world is a dream of peace (Nocturne) 275Placesofrest (Vilopunkter) 276Summer organ (Sommarorgel) 276

Harry Martinson (1904 - 1978)Farm maids (Pigor) 276The cable ship (Kabelskepp) 277Visual memory (Synminnej 277The goddess of complexion (Gudinnan av hyn) 278After (Efter) 278From Aniara (Ur Aniara) 279Thedreamcity (Dromstaden) 279The earthworm (Daggmasken) 280We sat on the shore (Vi satt pa stranden) 280

A//HenriJcson (1905-)The limits of fame (Ryktbarhetens grans) 280Plastic flowers (Plastblomman) 280Ancient China (Fran det gamla Kina) 281Efficiency experts (Rationaliseringen) 281

Sten Hagliden (1905 - 1979)Delta (Delta) 281From Cumulus County (Fran provins Cumulus) 282

Anders Frostenson (1906 — )Our faith in things eternal (Vi miste tron pa tingen) 282

24

Gunnar Ekelof (1907 - 1968)Absentia animi (Absentia animi) 283Oneafterone (Ettefterett) 285Five times I saw the star (Fem ganger sag jag stjarnan) 286Among the dead lives a notion of beauty (Hos de doda finns

en aning av skonhet) 286ToPosthumus (Till Posthumus) 286To see yourself in others (Att se sig sjalv i andra) 287Heard in a dream (Hort i drdmmen) 287Have you seen the desert bloom? (Har du sett oknen

blomma?) 288Helmer V. Nyberg (1907 - 1980)

You are Columbus (Du ar Columbus) 288He who loves is a sleep-walker (Den som alskar ar en somn-

gangare) 288Helge Jedenberg (1908 - )

The precious poverty (Den dyrbara fattigdomen) 289The poems of the cherry-tree (Korsbarstradets dikter) 289

Astrid Pettersson (1909 - )You can't just ignore it (Det gar inte att ga forbi) 289

Karl Vennberg (1910 - )Timely answer (Tidsreplik) 290You must avoid (Det galler att undvika) 291Wehaveall (Viharalla) 291

Erik Lindegren (1910 - 1968)XXI (From The man without a road) XXI (Ur Mannen utan vag) 291XXXII (XXXII) 292Cosmic mother (Kosmisk moder) 292

haraldforss (1911 - )shy are your thoughts (skygga 3ro dina tankar) 293inalienable the right to silence (ofbrneklig ar ratten till tystnad) . 293

Bertil Gedda (1912 - )The only strength (Det enda fasta) 293

KarlBolay (1914-)Swedish reality (Den folkhemska verkligheten) 294to create a poem (att dikta ar) 295

Martin Allwood (1916 - )I love America (Jag alskar Amerika) 295Not the same person (Inte samma person) 296

StigSjodin (1917- )Judgment day (Domedag) 296

Werner Aspenstrom (1918 - )Something's travelling past (Nagonting fardas forbi) 297

E/sa Grave (1918 - )Afterthought (Eftertanke) 298

Nicos Kokkalis (1918 - )The tourist (Turisten) 298

Ulf Peder Olrog (1919 - 1972)The stork named Ibrahim (Storken Ibrahim) 299

Ragnar Thoursie (1919 - )Commencement (Skolavslutningen) 300

Anna Greta Wide (1920 - 1965)Thestar (Stjarnan) 300

25

Stig Carlson (1920 - 1971)To learn again (Att lara om) 301Enforced concrete thoughts (Tvangstankar i betong) 301The short wrath and the long wrath (Den korta vreden och den

langa vreden) 302Ulla Olin (1920 - )

The child's gift (Barnets gava) 302Theltalian (Italienaren) 302

SandroKey-Aberg (1922 - )Life, man (Livet, gosse) 303

Lennart Dahl (1922 - )A culture salesman (Kulturarbetaren) 304Lily of the valley sadness (Liljekonvaljevemod) 304

Bo Setterlind (1923 - )A song of freedom (En sang om frihet) 305Love (Karleken) 305Death I fancied so (Doden tankte jag mig sa) 305

Liitfi O'zkSk (1923)A cloud of dust (Ett moln av damm) 305

HetmerLang (1924)ToArrabal (TillArrabal) 306I am the fresh-fallen snow (I sn6) 307

Ivar Grunthal (1924 - )Epitaph (Gravskrift) 307

Kerstin Thorvall (1925 - )The dining-room of the Grand Hotel (Stora Hotellets matsal) .... 308

Arne Lundgren (1925 - )After the collision (Efter krocken) 308Eyes in the alley (Ogon i grSnden) 308

Osten Sjostrand (1925 - )This all too exposed heart (Detta allrfor utsatta hjarta) 309Sideglance (Sidoblick) 309

Sonja Akesson (1926 - 1977)To be an infant (Att vara ett barn) 310

BjornJuien (1927 - )The inhuman factor (Den omanskliga faktorn) 311

Staffan Larsson (1927 - )Bach the fisherman (Bach fiskaren) 311

Lars Thunberg (1928 - )Under the prism (Under prismat) 312

Lars Forssell (1928 - )The Swedish summer (Den svenska'sommaren) 312VanGogh'sear (VanGoghsQra) 313You say that poetry is dead (Du sager att dikten ar dod) 314

Ingemar Leckius (1928 — )The voyeurs of suffering (Lidandets voyeurer) 314

Lars Lundkvist (1928 - )Experience (Ron) 315

Sebastian Lybeck (1929 - )It is often true (Det ar val ofta sant) 315Nolife (Stiltje) 315

Majken Johansson (1930 — )Housecleaning wife (Stadhustrun) 316

26

Lennart Sjogren (1930 - )The people with bleeding stomachs (De med blodarmagar) 316

Siv Widerberg (1931 - )The bedmate (Sangkamrat) 317Stamps (Frimarken) 317

Goran Palm (1931 - )The megaphone in poetry park (Megafonen i poesiparken) 317

Nenad Andrejevic (1931 - )Consolation (Trost) 318

Tomas Transtrb'mer (1931 — )The half-made heaven (Den halvfardiga himlen) 319Allegro (Allegro) 319Nocturne (Nocturne) 320The rocks (Stenarna) 320

Bertil Pettersson (1932 - )The curtains (Gardinerna) 320In the beginning was the word (I begynnelsen var ordet) 321

Lars Gustafson (1936 — )The balloon travelers (Ballongfararna) 321

Goran Tunstrom (1937 - )Letter from a renegade (Brev) 322

Bjorn Hakansson (1937 - )Marx in the U.S. (Marx i U.S.A.) 323

Torgny Lindgren (1938 - )What it would be like to be Olof Palme (Ur Hur skulle det vara om

man vore Olof Palme?) 323Goran Sonnevi (1939 - )

Through the open door (Genom den oppna dorren) 324The small remainder in me (Den lilla resten i mig) 325

Gunnar Harding (1940 - )Love in the police quarters (Karlek i polishuset) 326

Use Edstrom (1941 - )Illusions (SynfOrvillelser) 327

Hans Evert Rene (1941 - )Robert F. Kennedy (Robert F. Kennedy) 327Theswallow (Svalan) 328Awakening (Uppvaknande) 328

Jan Martenson (1944 — )To love the President of the United States (Att alska Amerikas

president) 328Shadow play (Skuggspel) 329

Lars Noren (1944 - )The first and last effort (Den forsta och sista anstrangningen) ... 329

Jacques Werup (1945 — )Icarus still takes wing (Ikaros lyfter alltjamt) 329

Ylva Eggehorn (1950 - )Teresa (Teresa) 330

FINLAND - SUOMI

In the Swedish language

Introduction by Helmer Lang 333

27

ArvidMorne (1876 - 1946)Before a runic stone (Infor en runsten) 337A boat in the bay (En bat pa fjarden) 337

Bertel Gripenberg (1878 - 1947)Don Juan (Don Juan) 338

Gunnar Bjorling (1887 - 1960)lama cup of longing (Jag 3r en langtans bagare) 338I set out to find the only word (Det enda ordet gick jag ut att

finna) • 338Charlie Chaplin (Charlie Chaplin) 339A child playing (Ett barn leker) 339I do not write literature (Jag skriver inte litteratur) 339I want to live in a city (Jag vill leva i en stad) 339

Edith Sodergran (1892 - 1923)The land that is not (Landet som icke ar) 340The stars are teeming (Stjamorna vimla) 341The moon (Manen) 341The foreign lands (De frSmmande landerna) 341There is no one in the world who has time (Det finns ingen

i varlden som har tid) 342The creators (Skaparegestalter) 342

Evert Hulden (1895-)The lumber load (Timmervagen) 342Cot-Ant (Kata-Ant) 343

Elmer Diktonius (1896 - 1961)A child in starlight (Barn i stjarnljus) 343Granite (Granit) 344Dostoievski (Dostojevskij) 345Wasitapoem (Vardetdikt) 345

Rabbe Enckell (1903 - 1974)In your soul (I din sjal) 346The poverty that came to me (Det armod som kom till mig) 346Spring sits behind a rock (Varen sitter bak en sten) 346One can't find anything in life (Man kan ingenting finna i livet) 347

Solveig von Schoultz (1907 - )Thelovers (De alskande) 347These (Dessa) 348Thedeaths (Dodarna) 348Three sisters (Tre systrar) 348

Henry Parland (1908 - 1930)Gasoline (Bensin) 349

Eva Wichman (1918 - )Evening wind (Aftonvinden) 349

Thomas Warburton (1918 - )From : Sixteen -hours (Fran Sexton timmar) 349

Nils-Borje Stormbom (1925 - )We, too, were there (Ocksa vi var dar) 350

Bo Carpelan (1926 - )The boy who ran through the flowing water (Pojken som sprang

genom det strQmmande vattnet) 351Listen (Hor) 351The ocean (Havet) 351What the evening said (Vad kvallen sade) 351

28

When the summer had precipitated its rain (Nar sommaren falltsitt regn) 352

Ski-ingtrip (Skidfard) 352When one drives up to the ninety-six octane pump (Kor man upp

till den nittiosexoktaniga pumpen) 352Lars Hulden (1926 - )

Come and be my quilt (Kom och var mitt tacke) 353A winter dragon (En vinterdrake) 353As the mistress of the house (Sasom en matmor) 353Although the crow has been lying for hours (Fastan krakan i timmar

harlegat) 354Per-Hakon Pawals (1928 - )

Salad-green mistress (Min salladsgrona alskarinna) 354Peter Sandelin (1930 - )

There is no safe place here (Har finns ej nagot sakerstalle) 355Carolus Rein (1935 - )

The city bells (Klockorna i staden) 355Gosta Agren (1936 - )

The factory worker (Fabriksarbetaren) 355Claes Andersson (1937 - )

Gladiator (Gladiator) 356"The penetration of substances through semi-permeable films"

("Amnenas vandring") 356Robert Alftan ( 1940- )

Portion Portion) 357

In the Finnish language

Introduction by Kai Laitinen 359

Otto Manninen (1872 - 1950)The cotton rooter (Pellavan kitkija) 363

Eino Leino (1878 - 1926)A legend of Finland (Legenda) 363

V.A. Koskenniemi (1885 - 1962)Behold, O my soul (Naa, oi, mun sieluni) 364The grave of a small child (Pienen lapsen hauta) 364

Aaro Hellaakoski (1893 - 1952)The painter (Maalari) 365Forest moonlight (Kuutamo metsassa) 365

P. Mustapaa (1899 - )Cornflowers (Ruiskukkia) 365Folktale (Olen viela kaukana) 366

Uuno Kailas (1901 - 1933)The house (Talo) 366Stupid people and smart people (Tyhmat ja viisaat) 367The word (Sanat) 367

Kaarlo Sarkia (1902 - 1945)Metamorphosis (Muodonvaihdos) 368Meeting (Kohtaaminen) 368

Katri Vala (1902 - 1944)Flowering earth (Kukkiva maa) 368Winter has come (Talvi on tullut) 369Blue flower (Sininen kukka) 370

29

Yrjo Jylha (1903 - 1956)Wounded (Haavoitettu) 370Weddingdance (Haatanhu) 370

Arvo Turtiainen (1904 - 1980)Spring (Kevat) 371Salin (Salin) 371

Viljo Kajava (1909 - )I am a guitar (From Hyva on meri) 372

Oiva Paloheimo (1910 - )August night (Elokuun yo) 372

Elvi Sinervo (1912 - )Autumn day (Syyspaiva) 373

Lauri Viita (1916 - 1965)Disease was dancing on the winter road (Tauti tanssi talvitiella) 373Has the fly been killed yet? (Joko on kerpanen tapettu?) 374Happiness (Onni) 374

Helvi Juvonen (1919 - 1959)Bottomice (Pohjajaata) 375I give (Minaannan) 375

Eila Kivikk'aho (1921 - )The song to summer (Laulu kesalle) 375Peter (Pietari) 376

Eeva-Liisa Manner (1921 — )Strontium (Strontium) 376At the street corner (Kadunkulmassa paistetaan) 378The trees are naked (Puut ovat paljaat) 379Acupoftea (Kupillinen teeta) 379The women thought Christ had risen (Ylos nousatta Kristusta) 379

Aila Meriluoto (1924 - )StoneGod (Kivinen Jumala) 380Wallis (Wallis) 381

Marja-Liisa Vartio (1924 - 1966)Two moons (Kaksi kuuta) 381

Kirsi Kunnas (1924 - )At my house is a difficult gate (Talossani on paha portti) 382The aspen has shed its leaves (Haapa on luopunut lehdis-

tansa) 382The landscape of love (Rakkauden maisema) 382

Pentti Holappa (1927 - )Anthem to my country (Hymny synnynmaalle) 383It's autumn (On syksy) 383

Tuomas Anhava (1927 — )Image of wind and trees (Kuvaus tuulesta ja puista) 384The stranger (Muukalainen) 384Theconch (Nakinkenka) 384Atdusk (Yonalla) 385The distant sounds grow more distant (Etaantyvat etaiset aanet) 385

Lasse Nummi (1928 - )Theletter (Kirje) 385

Mirkka Rekola (1931 - )You set the table (Katat poydan) 386

Paavo Haavikko (1931 - )Scribe of life (Elanan elamamkirjurit, kirjoittakaa) 386

30

The pines are playing (Mannyt leikkivat, satavat kavyt) 387Let cool waters run through your mouth (Anna viileitten vetten

virrata suun kautta) 387From Native soil (Kun nyt kerron keisarista) 387The Prince speaks (Ruhtinas puhuu) 388I hear the rain waking (Kuulen sateen heraavan) 388The books remain (Kirjat jaavat) 389

Vaino Kirstinii (1936 - )A slender throat (Sorea kaula) 389The virgin (Neito) 389

Pentti Saarikoski (1937 - )On that beautiful day when there was sr.ow (Kaunina paivana

jolloin lunta on oksilla) 390Let's meet at the flower shop (Tule kukkakauppan) 390

Pentti Saaritsa (1941)Theory (Teoria) 390

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING

General 391Iceland 392The Faroe Islands 393Denmark 393Saame poetry 395Norway 396Sweden 397Finland 399

31