Heikki Asunta



Uuno Taavi Heikki Asunta (25th June 1904 Kurkijärvi, Ruovesi – 28th June 1959 Ruovesi) was a Finnish poet, writer and painter.


 * A LITTLE EPISODE:
 * After days of demon drink
 * pessimist began to think,
 * “Holy shit, I swear I’ll never
 * drink again – I won’t, not ever.”
 * Rope in fist, he with a cry
 * crawled into a hole to die.


 * But the others, having seen
 * they were fewer than they’d been,
 * were transfixed with desolation
 * and they searched the whole location.
 * Brother found him, rigid spread –
 * there he was, and downright dead.


 * But some alcohol he gave him,
 * did the trick, for it revived him.
 * With a flourish of his flask,
 * said he, “Brothers, back to task.”

(Translation by Rupert Moreton)


 * Monta päivää juotuaan,
 * pessimisisti tuskissaan,
 * tuumi: “Jo on, jukoliste,
 * saavutettu päätepiste.”
 * Nuoranpätkä kourassaan
 * hiipi nurkkaan kuolemaan.


 * Mutta toiset nähtyään,
 * yhden poissa pöydästään,
 * sydämessään syvä hätä,
 * alkoi etsiä tätä.
 * Löytyi veikko nuorastaan,
 * vainajana suorastaan.


 * Mutta saatuansa spriitä,
 * virkistyi hän siitä.
 * Kohottaen lasiaan,
 * virkkoi: “Veljet – asiaan.”

(Lingua Fennica)