Finland

Leena Kellosalo
“Leonardo sai siivet”, Ntamo, 2015

I.

Makaan mökin terassilla
kukkivat kuuset seuranani
Tässä valoa tulvivassa maisemassa
pureudun planetaariseen kirkkauteen
kun Raippaluodon kirkonkellot
voitelevat sunnuntaita

Aurinko putoaa rinnalle
polttaen hopeista omenariipusta
Irrotan Eevan viettelyksen kaulalta
ja pohdin synnin kihisevää olemusta
kiellettyä hedelmää
ja tuomiokellot kumisevat
Silmissä mustasiipinen välähdys:
alassyösty enkeli
kapina tuomio ja helvetintuska

Pullea paarma tekee yhdeksännen syöksyn
kohti kuumia pakaroitani
kymmenennellä pakenen saunaan
Katselen sopivaa tappoasetta
sandaalia
mutta kädet ovat täynnä pyhyyttä
neitseellistä messua ja aurinkoöljyä
mieli kanervissa lepattavan perhosen
maisemassa
Kunnioitan paarman henkeä
vaikka olen itse riistaa

Vartijani soutaa kumiveneellä
kivikkoista järveä
mustin airoin
ja taivas aukeaa kuin baldakiini

I.

Me echo en la terraza de la cabaña
los pinos reverdecen en mi compañía
En este paisaje inundado de luz
me sujeto al fulgor planetario
mientras las campanas de la iglesia de Raippaluoto
consagran los domingos

Cae el sol en el pecho
quema el plateado medallón de manzana
Retiro la seducción de Eva del cuello
y pienso en la ardiente existencia del pecado
la fruta prohibida
y las campanas del juicio final retumban
En los ojos un relámpago de alas oscuras:
ángel derrocado
rebelión juzgamiento e infernal angustia

El robusto tábano embiste por novena vez
hacia mis nalgas calientes
a la décima huyo a la sauna
Busco el arma perfecta
una sandalia
pero las manos están llenas de santidad
misas virginales y aceite para sol
la mente en la palpitante mariposa del brezo
en el paisaje
Respeto la vida del tábano
aunque la presa sea yo

Mi guardián va en la balsa de caucho
por el pedregoso lago
con remos negros
y el cielo se abre como un baldaquino

I.

I lie on the terrace of the cabin
in the company of flowering pines trees
in this landscape flooded with light
I hold on to the planetary brightness
while the church bells in Raippaluoto
consecrate Sundays

The sun falls on my chest
it burns the silver apple locket
I remove Eve’s seduction from my neck
thinking about the burning existence of sin
the forbidden fruit
and the doom bells toll
In my eyes a dark-winged flash of light:
overthrown angel
rebellion judgment and infernal anguish

The robust horsefly charges for the ninth time
towards my hot buttocks
on the tenth I run in the sauna
I am looking for the perfect weapon
a sandal
but my hands are full of holiness
virginal masses and oil for the sun
my mind in the landscape of a butterfly
fluttering among the heathers
I respect the horsefly’s life
although I am its prey

My guardian rows a rubber boat
through the stony lake
with black oars
and the sky opens up like a baldachin

II.

Kirkkaana elokuun iltana
balalaikka ja laulu
mutta siitä alkaakin jo toinen tarina
siirtyminen maailmasta toiseen

Oravan
puutarhurini
tulinen häntä autokatoksessa:
hauraitten luitten riipaiseva symmetria
jota ei enää ole
ja pimeys syttyy takaisin alkuun
Kirkkaana elokuun iltana
kun aika on maisema
sovitus on
ja kaikki kalliisti maksettava
ja peikonkulta hohtaa
sammalkiven juuressa
hiljainen mies sauvakävelee
pois maisemasta
joka on

II.

En una tarde iluminada de agosto
balalaica y serenata
pero esa ya es otra historia
el paso de un mundo a otro

La rojiza cola
de mi ardilla jardinera
sobre el techo del estacionamiento:
en sus frágiles huesos la desgarradora simetría
que ya no está
y la oscuridad se enciende de regreso al origen
En una tarde iluminada de agosto
cuando el tiempo es un paisaje
hay un acuerdo
y todo lo que debe pagarse caro
y el fuego fatuo resplandecen
en la raíz de la piedra musgosa
un hombre callado avanza con bastones
saliendo del paisaje
que hay

II.

On a bright August evening
balalaika and serenade
but that’s another story
the passage from one world to another

The fiery tail
of the squirrel gardener
in the carport:
heartbreaking symmetry of fragile bones
that is no longer here
and the darkness ignites back to the beginning
On a bright August evening
when time is a landscape
there is an agreement
and everything that must be paid dearly
and the foxfire glows
at the root of the mossy stone
a silent man is walking with ski poles
leaving the landscape
that exists

Leena Kellosalo is a Finnish writer and poet born in Tampere. Kellosalo is an actress, master of philosophy, literature critic, literary writing teacher, and an award-winning speaker and audiobook reader. She has read her poetry at various Finnish literary festivals and events. She has published two books of poetry: Leonardo sai siivet (tr. The Wings Appeared in Leonardo), Ntamo, 2015; and, Hevosenpääsumussa (tr. In the Horse’s Cloudy Head), Ntamo, 2018. Kellosalo was bestowed the 2018 Tampere City Literature Prize for her second book of poetry also in 2018.

Kellosalo’s first poem uses routine as an entryway into a discussion of religion and predestination. In her presentation of Eden and the original sin, Kellosalo compels readers to challenge the definition of routine as a force beyond human control by encouraging an awakening of the mind and body. While the tendencies toward temptation and desire that define human existence suggest that human nature itself is a manifestation of routine, Kellosalo underscores how choice offers a powerful counterbalance to this particular vision of routine. In her second poem, choice is presented as a key element of exploration and discovery, once again highlighting the importance of engagement. 

Spanish translation prepared by Zoila Forss
English translation prepared by Nicolás Barbosa López