http://www.booksfromfinland.fi/2010/01/hamlet-in-blue-velvet/ A literary journal of writing from and about Finland. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:05:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.booksfromfinland.fi/2010/01/hamlet-in-blue-velvet/comment-page-1/#comment-479 Sarah Barnsley Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:24:05 +0000 http://www.booksfromfinland.fi/?p=3631#comment-479 'Hamlet in blue velvet' - the title alone startles and snares the reader. I was utterly enthralled with these poems from the very beginning. Sirkka Turkka's technique is certainly 'never abstract,' for every phrase, clause, and sentence delivers up an intoxicating mix of sensual, quirky imagery compacted in such a cool, detached voice that it seems perfectly rational to hear AND see a roar in 'electric-blue' or a dog's bark 'long and narrow like a tunnel.' These overwhelmingly compelling poems, finely translated by Emily Jeremiah, not only involve all the senses, they ripple right through them, compounding the visual with the auditory, the auditory with the synaesthetic. And there are lots of dogs, hearts, and trousers, too, as the boundaries of humanity blur and smudge in the most delightful, comical, indeed ecstatic way. Marvellous stuff! ‘Hamlet in blue velvet’ – the title alone startles and snares the reader. I was utterly enthralled with these poems from the very beginning. Sirkka Turkka’s technique is certainly ‘never abstract,’ for every phrase, clause, and sentence delivers up an intoxicating mix of sensual, quirky imagery compacted in such a cool, detached voice that it seems perfectly rational to hear AND see a roar in ‘electric-blue’ or a dog’s bark ‘long and narrow like a tunnel.’ These overwhelmingly compelling poems, finely translated by Emily Jeremiah, not only involve all the senses, they ripple right through them, compounding the visual with the auditory, the auditory with the synaesthetic. And there are lots of dogs, hearts, and trousers, too, as the boundaries of humanity blur and smudge in the most delightful, comical, indeed ecstatic way. Marvellous stuff!

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