Inger christensen was both a virtuoso and a paradox. Inger christensen, danish poet whose linguistically sophisticated work explores the interconnections of language, fiction, and reality. Inger christensen biography, poems, alphabet, it, butterfly. In the spring of 2011, i happened upon inger christensens alphabet, a slim new directions paperback, and came under the spell of its exquisite structure almost immediately.
But, of course, the inger christensen alphabet engine in this book is that christensen uses fibonaccis sequence to increase the number of lines in each of the poems. Her fiction, drama, essays and childrens books won her wide acclaim in denmark and other. Alphabet builds on her earlier analogies between language and physical reality by applying alphabetic and numeric structures, such as the fibonacci numbers, as principles of creative order. In the spring of 2011, i happened upon inger christensens alphabet, a slim new directions paperback, and came. Inger christensens poetry is most often described as experimental, and it most certainly is. Here the transitions between the poet and the essayist christensen are fluid. Susanna nied on translating alphabet by inger christensen. The daughter of a tailor living on denmarks jutland coast, she graduated from vejle gymnasium in 1954 and studied at teachers college in arhus. Inger christensen was a danish poet, novelist, essayist and editor. Contemporary poets have used the alphabet constraint on a grand scale, creating long poems, such as carolyn forches on earth, and even throughout entire books, such as inger christensens alphabet and harryette mullens sleeping with the dictionary.
The excerpt from the poem,og grenenes eneste tegning, and the lone drawing made by the branches is fashioned. Alphabet is one of the most wellknown poems of inger christensen, who was broadly considered to be denmarks most prominent poet. Inger christensens alphabet is built up under two formal constraints. Her alphabet is uplifting and heartbreaking at once. Wright recommends alphabet, poems by inger christensen.
Although she has also written a novel, stories, essays, radio plays, a drama and an opera libretto, christensen is primarily known for her linguistically skilled and. Inger christensen was born alphbaet vejle, denmark, in want to read currently reading read. This poem alphabet reflects on themes related to the natural environment in the shadow and threat of manmade threats. Forgetting about the first two numbers, christensens first section has one line, the second two, the third three, the fourth five, the fifth eight, etc.
Although susanna nieds translation from the danish of inger christensen s alphabet won the asfpen translation prize for poetry in 1982, its taken. Christensen was an experimentalist, but that doesnt mean her poems. Phenomenal woman, still i rise, the road not taken, if you forget me, dreams. Feb 27, 20 in inger christensens 1981 book of poetry, alphabet, we are left as readers to consider this loss. The wellknown danish poet was said to have written an encyclopedia of natural history and its destroyers by eliot weinberger. Reading at the kelly writers house, university of pennsylvania, september 28, 1998 pierre joris and jerome rothenberg read selections from poems for the millennium, a twovolume anthology published by the university of california press, which they coedited. Rebecca hazelton is the author of fair copy 2012, winner of the ohio state university pressthe journal award in poetry, and vow 20, from cleveland state university poetry center. The daughter of a tailor living on denmarks jutland coast, she graduated from vejle gymnasium in 1954 and studied at teachers college in. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The choice of constraint by rebecca hazelton poetry foundation. Alphabet by inger christensen pdf free download ebook. She was danish, and it is a misfortune for any great writer to be confined to a.
Is this flickering of wings only a shoal of light particles, a quirk of perception. Praise god or whichever earthly or extraterrestrial powers you believe in. Inger christensens masterpiece it, translated brilliantly by susanna nied, and with an illuminating introduction by anne carson it is the masterwork by danish poet inger christensen a true singer of the syllables, said c. Susanna nied on translating alphabet by inger christensen part. Inger christensen s alphabet new directions, 2001 is a book that made me hesitate at first, then won me over. An english language translation by susanna nied won the americanscandinavian pen translation prize in 1982. What has it been like to live with alphabet for over 30 years.
Its inventive structure, based on the fibonacci sequence the number of lines in each section follow the pattern 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, etc. She is considered the foremost danish poetic experimentalist of her generation. The editors, and guest readers rachel blau duplessis and bob perelman, performed. The excerpt from the poem,og grenenes eneste tegning, and the lone. A startling and gorgeous work by denmarks most admired poet finally available in english translation. In a long poem, darcy revisits inger christensens 1981 alphabet, a work which expresses the heartsickening persistence and proliferation of beauty after hiroshima. Born in 1935, inger christensen is denmarks best known poet. Nov 29, 2014 7 posts published by kshshu during november 2014. Inger christensen, who has died aged 73, was one of the most significant european poets of the 20th century. It is inspired by the poem alphabet 1981 by inger christensen, a native of the north jutland, denmark.
I up they soar, the planets butterflies, pigments from the warm body of the earth, cinnabar, ochre, phosphor yellow, gold a swarm of basic elements aloft. She had a tremendous gift and tremendous skill, to be able to state so cleanly and tenderly what she saw. But beyond technical innovation, what christensen offered her readers is a humanistic body of work meant to look directly into our place in the world. The febrile christenssen of natural history that alights on each letter of the first half of the alphabet until ninfinity is so clearly a spiral. Inger christensen was born in vejle, denmark, in 1935. Translated by susanne nied, the reader, and audience is opened to the words of alphabet, in the english. Initially she studied medicine, but then trained as a teacher and worked at the college of art in holb. His wife had been dead for a week and hed been tired for years, but as leonard pulled leslie from the fire, he felt. Say the word silk, and it vanishes with the sound, but your senses, your.
Of course this is partly because inger christensens poetry is phenomenal but also because alphabets themes, its focus. Inger christensen was born in vejle, denmark in 1935. Is it the dreamed summer hour of my childhood shattered as. In darcys alphabet, the spiralling form takes over, insisting on hope. The poem starts as a celebration of the natural world but the threats to it soon become apparent and whilst apricot trees exist so do atom bombs exist.
Could it be that the reason were still having wars is that were afraid to tell each. Inger christensen poems poems of inger christensen. Inger christensen 16 january 1935 2 january 2009 was a danish poet, novelist, essayist and editor. Here are the first five sections of the danish poet inger christensens book alphabet, translated by susanna nied. The gorgeous poetry herein reflects a complex philosophical background, yet has a. Originally published in 1969 it and 1981 the alphabet in christensens native danish, in the past decade both of these seminal works of scandinavian poetry have been translated into english. Inger christensen 1935 2009, whose work is a cornerstone of modern scandinavian poetry, was the recipient of many international awards, among them the nordic authors prize, bestowed by the swedish academy and known as the little nobel. Susanna nieds remarkably beautiful translation was awarded the americanscandinavian pen translation prize by michael hamburger. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. A book to break up the psychic mumbo jumbo within, and to help you fight the actual threats from without. This land art project for landshape is located on the grounds of the gasmuseet, hobro. I couldnt fathom why i hadnt heard of the poem before. Not a day goes by without something from alphabet coming into my mind.
The choice of constraint by rebecca hazelton poetry. Note that the eighth section, in fact, does not literally begin with h in the english translation. Excerpts from alphabet have become the main source of large displays of public. May 14, 2019 after her trek through beauty and destruction, christensen seems to take refuge in the natural world, and find sense in nature amidst all the senselessness of human killing and hate. Buy alphabet by inger christensen, susanna nied translator isbn. Inger christensen s alphabet is built up under two formal constraints. Apr 12, 2020 inger christensen was both a virtuoso and a paradox. Wright, often cited as a nobel contender and one of europes most revered poets. Part two of iris cushings interview of inger christensens translator. Feb 18, 2009 inger christensen, who has died aged 73, was one of the most significant european poets of the 20th century. In inger christensens 1981 book of poetry, alphabet, we are left as readers to consider this loss. Poem hunter all poems of by inger christensen poems.
After christensen was awarded a handful of major literary prizes in the late 1990s, including the swedish academy nordic. After that she opted for the life of a freelance writer. In alphabet, christensen creates a framework of psalmlike forms. Her works include poetry, fiction, drama, and essays. Christensen was denmarks foremost poet during her lifetime 19352009. Leonard hadnt seen his only child since the night ten years ago when he pulled her out of a flaming car. She initially studied medicine but then trained to be a teacher, and from 1963 to 1964 she worked at the college for arts in holb. Nov, 2015 alphabet by inger christensen in doc, fb2, txt download ebook.
Christensen is considered to be one the greatest danish poetic experimentalists of her era. Inger christensen showed tremendous courage by looking at the world, including us humans, as clearly as she did. Christensen used the alphabet from a apricots to n. The poem was originally published in 1981 in danish as alfabet.
Awarded the americanscandinavian pen translation prize by michael hamburger, susanna nieds translation of alphabet introduces inger christensens poetry to us readers for the first time. Today, our featured participant is vijaya sundaram, whose didactic poem for day 19 will teach you how to clean your house our featured poet in translation is denmarks inger christensen. Inger christensen is no apologist for blind, rapturous singing, but probably the most formconscious and reflective writer of poetry in europe today. May 01, 2001 finally available in english translation, alphabet is a startling and gorgeous work by denmarks most admired poet, inger christensen. Today we are twothirds done with april, and entering the home stretch of napowrimoglopowrimo.
Alphabet by inger christensen in doc, fb2, txt download ebook. Finally available in english translation, alphabet is a startling and gorgeous work by denmarks most admired poet, inger christensen. On its publication in 1969, it took denmark by storm, winning critical praise and. Jan 02, 2009 inger christensen, danish poet whose linguistically sophisticated work explores the interconnections of language, fiction, and reality. Inger christensen poems poems of inger christensen poem. Inger christensen s masterpiece it, translated brilliantly by susanna nied, and with an illuminating introduction by anne carson. Alphabet an excerpt poem by inger christensen poem hunter. Posts about inger christensen written by michael9murray. On the back of my copy of alphabetsusanna nieds english translation, published in 2001is a quote from the german critic michael braun. The alphabet and it, inger christensen new directions, 2000 and 2005. Poems for the millennium poems for the millennium i. Inger christensen alphabet lives and teaches in cincinnati. Her awardwinning alphabet is based structurally on fibonaccis sequence a mathematical sequence in which each number is the sum of the two.
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