Heikki Asunta

Finnish journalist and poet (1904-1959)

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
Heikki Asunta in Ruovesi 1949
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)