Saturday 24th September 2011
Translations of Finnish poems and songs
Donald Adamson is a poet and translator, who taught Creative Writing and Translation Studies in Finnish Universities until his recent retirement. Alongside his own collections, Finnish translations include ‘How to address the fog: Finnish poems 1978-2002’ (Carcanet/Scottish Poetry Library, 2005), and for the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki; also songs for Värttinä (acclaimed Finnish World Music Ensemble).

He co-founded the Markings literary magazine, and one of his prize-winning poems ‘Fause Prophets’, won the Herald Millennium Poetry Competition. It is buried in a time capsule under the walls of the Scottish Poetry Library!
‘…individualistic, sincere, rhythmically subtle, holding and exploring a genuine vision of the world…’ (James McGonigal, Former Editor New Writing Scotland)
‘…ranges widely through human experience while maintaining a surprising balance…combines impish humour and sensitivity with intelligence…attention to the subtleties of language and place has developed through his travels among many difference peoples’ (Martin Bates, author The Wounded Lion, Redbeck)