Lishanu - Swedish haiku by Florence Vilén

Lishanu • an interlingual haikai journal
Autumn 2005 • Issue 1

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Haiku in Swedish by Florence Vilén, Saltsjö-Boo, Sweden Translation: author
Museum garden, between slender statues sunbathers' flesh	Museiparken, mellan slanka statyer solbadarhullet
* * *
High school - climbing the south wall wisteria flowers	Högre läroverk... uppför sydväggen klänger blommande blåregn
Translating this haiku poses an interesting problem. The term for school includes a reference to higher education which is a pleasant accompaniment to the clinging vine, but this is not a high school. It is now obsolete but refers to the older school system where only privileged pupils went, at a time when these schools were almost palace-like, often in heavy brick. Thus the term which I turned into high school is full of associations to any Swede, including the change-over from an ancient privilege society. Wisteria is extremely rare in these parts of Sweden but the name is pretty:blue rain, coined after the bush golden rain, which is common, English laburnum.
* * *
The bitter taste of a fourth cup of tea in the summer rain	Den beska smaken av fjärde koppen te i sommarregnet
* * *
Only the bark left on age-old apple trees - yet they blossom	Bara barken kvar på urgamla äppleträd - som ändå blommar
This English version has been published in the internet publication Poetry in the Light, belonging to Elizabeth St Jacques. I saw this very scene in an 18th century kitchen garden, called Svindersvik, not far from my home. Of course it can also be read as a reference to the strength of age, in spite of all its physical shortcomings. The Swedish versions of the above haiku have been published in the anthology Haiku Förvandlingar, 2004.
* * *
All the shades of plum, bird-cherry, pear, sloe: white-blossom May	Från hägg till syren; plommon, körsbär, päron, slån studier i vitt
In Sweden we often speak about the time "mellan hägg och syren" as the finest of the year. This is when the bird-cherry begins in mid-May (where I live) and then the lilacs open, a few weeks later. This Swedish haiku has been published in our journal Haiku, in 2002. My English version, which is very free, was published on Denis Garrison's site in a cycle for the twelve months of the year from around the world.
About myself: Swede, live outside our capital Stockholm, writer on various cultural and historical themes, teacher in adult education. Have published a version for young people of a selection of Ovid's metamorphoses. Literary interests from ancient Greek to modern fantasy. A handful of languages, including German, French and Greek. Secretary of the Swedish Haiku Society. Involved with its journal, Haiku.

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