L. Onerva

thumb|L. Onerva (1907) L. Onerva (real name Hilja Onerva Lehtinen, 28 April 1882 – 1 March 1972) was a Finnish poet. Onerva also wrote short stories and novels and worked as a translator and critic. In her works, she often dealt with tension in women's lives concerning freedom and commitment. She is also remembered for her complicated relationship with Eino Leino, as well as her marriage to the composer Leevi Madetoja. Quotes Mikä olen? TähdenlentoLuojan ikuisessa yössä,tomujyvä aavan aineenlakkaamattomassa työssä.Mutta sentään! Tahdon antaahehkun hetkelleni tälle,tahdon loistaa, tahdon laulaakiitoslaulun elämälle.Tahdon laulaa: mitä siitä,jos ma lopuin, kussa aloin,mutta silmänräpäyksenvalokaarin yössä paloin!Hetken sykin, liekkisydän,aurinkona maailman omantunsin kauneuden kaipuun,rakkauden rajattoman.Alistukaa, avaruudet,pienen tähden välkynnälle!Tahdon loistaa, tahdon laulaakiitoslaulun elämälle. What am I? I am a cometin Creator’s night infernal,dusty grain of far-flung matterof his labour’s task eternal.Glow upon my moment’s fleeting –that is all I want to furnish,song of praise for my heart’s beating –My desire to sing I’ll burnish.Yes, I want to sing and shiningeven end as I once startedin a blinking eyelid’s momentwhen a flash across sky darted!Flaming heart that once pulsated,sun apart that once was burning,boundless love was what I wanted –beauty’s gift, my ardent yearning.Space deserted, now surrenderto the light of my star’s beating!my desire to sing I’ll burnish –song of praise for life repeating. Translation by Rupert Moreton External links Category:1882 births Category:1972 deaths Category:Literary critics Category:Novelists from Finland Category:People from Helsinki Category:Poets from Finland Category:Short story writers from Finland Category:Translators from Finland Category:Women authors from Finland