MALAYALAM
Swedish poetry
NEELA PADMANABHAN
URNGUNNAVARKKULLA KATHUKAL (Modern Swedish Poems): Tr. by Satchidanandan; D.C. Books, Kottayam-686012. Rs.100.
THIS IS a Malayalam translation of a collection of Swedish poems, a first in Malayalam. In this anthology 173 poems by 21 Swedish poets have been translated with a detailed introduction about Swedish poetry and brief notes on all the poets by Satchidanandan for which he deserves appreciation. It is known he has taken pains to visit Sweden for discussing the peculiar individual nature of the poems with most of the poets in person. That is why one can experience the exceptional calmness and beauty of these poems even in this translation.
Undisturbed observation, minute attention on men and matters, balanced imagination immersed in past memories and present landscapes, handling of meaningful images, moderate and cautious usage of words are common features of these poems. All but one (Werner Aspenstrom 1918-97) of these 21 poets are living, who represent four generations. Werner Aspenstrom’s poems deeply discover the glorious moments in between death and expectations.
Poems of Tomas Transtromer lead the readers to a parallel world of dreams and imaginations. But Agneta Pleijel searches the inner self through her poems. Theepetta Raani (Expired Queen) leads the reader to a mystical world of mythology and legend. The title poem Urangunnavarkkulla Kathukal (Letters to sleeping persons) by Marie Lundquist is a typical poem, which gives a kind of mystifying experience and restlessness to the reader’s mind.
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