A Valley in the Midst of Violence: Selected Poems, 1955-85
8 journalers for this copy...
Selected Poems
Translated by David McDuff
Poetry Society Society Recommended Translation
First Published 1992
Former library book
Translated by David McDuff
Poetry Society Society Recommended Translation
First Published 1992
Former library book
First have to confess, I love poems, and know how hard it is to translate them into another language.
This edition has been translated in collaboration with the original writer, which gives always the best results. As an extra point, the writer had made a selection of poems he thought would work out well when translated into English, and I have to confess that (of course without reading the original to compare) the texts are very well done, seem like poems in English too, and the book in all was a very nice read (only 110 pages in all).
This edition has been translated in collaboration with the original writer, which gives always the best results. As an extra point, the writer had made a selection of poems he thought would work out well when translated into English, and I have to confess that (of course without reading the original to compare) the texts are very well done, seem like poems in English too, and the book in all was a very nice read (only 110 pages in all).
Going for a small trip in Finland
kihaan
halonhakkaaja
Chania
Liinuskainen
Bookgeo
Aspen72
...
Pellu (doesn't need before New Year)
hippolein
No special rules, just see that everybody gets the book on time to read it for the challenge ;-)
kihaan
halonhakkaaja
Chania
Liinuskainen
Bookgeo
Aspen72
...
Pellu (doesn't need before New Year)
hippolein
No special rules, just see that everybody gets the book on time to read it for the challenge ;-)
Journal Entry 4 by 
hippolein
at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, August 25, 2008
hippolein at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, August 25, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (8/25/2008 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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Book left this evening for kihaan. Have fun reading!
Book left this evening for kihaan. Have fun reading!
Thank you, hippolein, the book is here already. That was quick! I should get it read in a few days time... Oh, the joy of being on sick leave!
First, I'm ashamed to admit that I had no idea Gösta Ågren is from Finland and that he has even won the Finlandia Prize! Then again, I haven't ever been a fan of poems. Somehow I always find them more or less 'difficult'. I'm happy to say that I actually liked some of the poems although I just didn't get all that Ågren was trying to say. I don't think I would have liked the poems in Finnish as much though, in English they tasted better. Anyway, I'm glad I read the book, now I can have a clear conscience when staying away from poetry again. ;o) And more importantly, I earned the letter Å for the Aakkoshaaste.
Thank you the chance to read the book, hippolein.
Thank you the chance to read the book, hippolein.
Released 15 yrs ago (9/1/2008 UTC) at
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Happy reading, halonhakkaaja!
Happy reading, halonhakkaaja!
Journal Entry 8 by halonhakkaaja from Kuopio, Pohjois-Savo / Norra Savolax Finland on Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The book arrived today. Thanks a lot!
Edit 6.9.2008
Thank you for sharing this book Hippolein! Ågren was new acquaintance for me. I didn't know either, that he has won the Finlandia Prize. I believe, that I would have liked the poems more if I had read them in Finnish. But I liked many of them also now in English. In general I have to concentrate more when I read poems compared to prose. So now that it wasn't in my mother tongue, it needed even more concentration. It would be interesting to read his poems in Finnish or in Swedish. My favourite thoughts were 'The winter is coldest in summer' and others like that. I'm very happy I read the book!
Edit 6.9.2008
Thank you for sharing this book Hippolein! Ågren was new acquaintance for me. I didn't know either, that he has won the Finlandia Prize. I believe, that I would have liked the poems more if I had read them in Finnish. But I liked many of them also now in English. In general I have to concentrate more when I read poems compared to prose. So now that it wasn't in my mother tongue, it needed even more concentration. It would be interesting to read his poems in Finnish or in Swedish. My favourite thoughts were 'The winter is coldest in summer' and others like that. I'm very happy I read the book!
Journal Entry 9 by halonhakkaaja at Kuopio, Pohjois-Savo / Norra Savolax Finland on Saturday, September 6, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (9/8/2008 UTC) at Kuopio, Pohjois-Savo / Norra Savolax Finland
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I'm sending the book to Chania.
I'm sending the book to Chania.
Journal Entry 10 by 
Chania
from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten Finland on Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Chania from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten Finland on Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Thank you all! Looks interesting - I will probably read this during the dark hours of the night ('cos I have two nightshifts next) and then send it forward!
Thank you halonhakkaaja for the second book too and the lovely postcard!!!
Thank you halonhakkaaja for the second book too and the lovely postcard!!!
Journal Entry 11 by Chania from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten Finland on Thursday, September 11, 2008
Chania from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten Finland on Thursday, September 11, 2008
I finished the book early hours of the morning. I knew Ågren beforehand, probably because he is originally not far from the area where I live (altough I am not swedish-speaking myself). I liked most of the poems - they were quiet, meditative, calming.
The two lines that stuck into my mind were from poem "Gerd Ågren", going like this:
"If life is meaningless, it must be a gift" - there is something to think about!
Sending to Liinuskainen probably tomorrow (too busy today).
The two lines that stuck into my mind were from poem "Gerd Ågren", going like this:
"If life is meaningless, it must be a gift" - there is something to think about!
Sending to Liinuskainen probably tomorrow (too busy today).
Journal Entry 12 by Liinuskainen from Lieksa, Pohjois-Karjala / Norra Karelen Finland on Thursday, September 18, 2008
Thanks for the book, it had arrived in Monday, but I have been a bit busy this week. I'm going to read this during the weekend.
Journal Entry 13 by Liinuskainen from Lieksa, Pohjois-Karjala / Norra Karelen Finland on Thursday, September 25, 2008
I thought that I could read these poems in one weekend, but I discovered that they needed more time. I’ve never read anything from this writer before and I have to admit that I didn’t know that he won the Finlandia Prize. The poems were very interesting. Some of them were a bit melancholic or pessimistic. In some poems I probably didn’t understand what the writer wanted to say. And I had to read some of the poems several times. But all in all, I did like some of the poems a lot. I especially liked the poems that were under the titles Life, People, Discoveries and Consolation. For me the whole September has been really busy month in the work, so the poem Stress really hit me.
The mail falls like severed wings to the floor.
On the calendar you write down times and days.
Your life slowly becomes more important than you.,
Book will now travel to next reader. Thanks for sharing!
The mail falls like severed wings to the floor.
On the calendar you write down times and days.
Your life slowly becomes more important than you.,
Book will now travel to next reader. Thanks for sharing!
Journal Entry 14 by Liinuskainen at Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Thursday, September 25, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (9/25/2008 UTC) at Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland
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This book will now travel to Bookgeo.
This book will now travel to Bookgeo.
Journal Entry 15 by 
Bookgeo
from Pirkkala, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Friday, September 26, 2008
Bookgeo from Pirkkala, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Friday, September 26, 2008
The book arrived to Tampere today, thanks Liinuskainen! I will read these poems after finishing an other bookring book first.
Journal Entry 16 by Bookgeo from Pirkkala, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Bookgeo from Pirkkala, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
I do not usually read poems so this was kind of a special experience for me. I had no previous knowledge about Mr. Ågren and also no idea about him winning the Finlandia prize.
These poems brought me calm feelings as well as feelings of sorrow and hope. The following poem especially stayed on my mind.
Locked into freedom
we desperately seek a door
but all can be opened
Thanks for sharing this, I have mailed the book to Aspen72 now.
These poems brought me calm feelings as well as feelings of sorrow and hope. The following poem especially stayed on my mind.
Locked into freedom
we desperately seek a door
but all can be opened
Thanks for sharing this, I have mailed the book to Aspen72 now.
Journal Entry 17 by Bookgeo at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Bookgeo at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (10/1/2008 UTC) at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book is travelling to Turku for Aspen72 now.
The book is travelling to Turku for Aspen72 now.
Journal Entry 18 by AspenYard from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Thursday, October 2, 2008
Thank you! This book arrived today and I actually started to read the poems right away. Sometimes I think it would be faster to read poems, compared to novels, but it could be vice versa as well. At least with these poems I am trying to understand them, and had to reread some poems couple of times at least before catching the thoughts.
Quite interesting that this book has originally been a library book in West Sussex.
Quite interesting that this book has originally been a library book in West Sussex.
Journal Entry 19 by AspenYard from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Friday, October 17, 2008
These poems were interesting in a way that I really wanted at least to try to understand them. Therefore, reading was a bit slow at times. The athmosphere was mainly quite melancholic and cynical. Finally I came across to my favourite poem on page 86, "Action".
Every victory concludes
itself. What remains is the way,
the same way again. It is
possible to learn
knowledge, to conceal that
wild, nameless bird
beneath a name. It is easy
to realise one's dreams
if one sacrifices them. And
the years, the years go by. Yet
you must act now.
More profound than all that you do
is all that you are. The most profound
is all that you must to
in order to be able to remain
who you are.
There was one interestingly philosophical thought in a poem telling of a retired man: "Now it is possible to live. At last the future is over." I wondered whether the author wanted to say that finally there were time to concentrate on this moment.
Thanks for sharing these poems, hippolein. This serves well as 'Å' in alphabet challenge.
I suppose there are no more alphabet-challenge readers, and this book can fly next to Pellu.
#57 release in Keep them moving 2008 challenge
itself. What remains is the way,
the same way again. It is
possible to learn
knowledge, to conceal that
wild, nameless bird
beneath a name. It is easy
to realise one's dreams
if one sacrifices them. And
the years, the years go by. Yet
you must act now.
More profound than all that you do
is all that you are. The most profound
is all that you must to
in order to be able to remain
who you are.
There was one interestingly philosophical thought in a poem telling of a retired man: "Now it is possible to live. At last the future is over." I wondered whether the author wanted to say that finally there were time to concentrate on this moment.
Thanks for sharing these poems, hippolein. This serves well as 'Å' in alphabet challenge.
I suppose there are no more alphabet-challenge readers, and this book can fly next to Pellu.
#57 release in Keep them moving 2008 challenge
Journal Entry 20 by Pellu from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Saturday, November 15, 2008
I have read Gösta Ågrens poems in Finnish and liked a lot, but I think they may work better in this book translated in English with help of the poet. It will be interesting to see. I’ll start to read these poems in little parts today.
Thank you hippolein for sharing this book and Aspen72 fro sending it.
Thank you hippolein for sharing this book and Aspen72 fro sending it.
Journal Entry 21 by Pellu from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Wednesday, December 17, 2008
I really loved these poems. All of them did’t open to me, but most of them really got me ponder them and gaze into the distance several minutes at a time. I can’t say which one was my favourite poem, but I really liked this one, partly it has so interesting form:
One Way Out
It is getting dark. What is there
to Mourn? Love is
as brutal as hunger.
Throught cannot protect itself
against itself. It is not possible
to choose between strength and
its cruelty, between life
and its meaning. To endure
is perhaps a defeat, but
love deepens to respect
and strength cools to
solitude, and thought
finds shadow.
Dividing of lines to give different meanings to words by pausing the poem seems to be typical to Ågren. I don’t always like it, but in this one it’s great.
One Way Out
It is getting dark. What is there
to Mourn? Love is
as brutal as hunger.
Throught cannot protect itself
against itself. It is not possible
to choose between strength and
its cruelty, between life
and its meaning. To endure
is perhaps a defeat, but
love deepens to respect
and strength cools to
solitude, and thought
finds shadow.
Dividing of lines to give different meanings to words by pausing the poem seems to be typical to Ågren. I don’t always like it, but in this one it’s great.
Ring made it safely back home. Thanks to everybody who participated!
