Olav H. Hauge (1908–1994), a notable modernists, was one of Norway’s most beloved poets in the 20th century. While he lived a seemingly plain life as a gardener and fruit farmer in Ulvik where he grew up, he lived a grander life in literature.
As a poet, Hauge started on the outskirts of the literary institution. From his youth up until his fifties, Hauge occasionally suffered from mental problems. He was admitted in a psychiatric hospital several times. This may explain his late debut, at the age of 38.
After his debut, new books with his own poetry were published every fifth year until 1971. Although Hauge published a few prose articles, he has been seen almost purely as a poet. But his largest body of work is in fact prose. When he died, it was revealed that he had kept a diary from the age of 15. In books, this constitutes five volumes and about four thousand pages, Dagbok 1924-1994 (2000). In size, this is the largest literary diary in Norwegian. Hauge was also an industrious letter writer.
In this recording Olav H Hauge reads four poems
1. Du var vinden
You Are The Wind
I am a boat
without wind.
You were the wind.
Was that the direction I wanted to go?
Who cares about directions
with a wind like that!
2. Elvane møtest
3. Det er den draumen
It’s the Dream
(Translated by Robin Fulton)
It’s the dream we carry in secret
that something miraculous will happen,
that it must happen –
that time will open
that the heart will open
that doors will open
that the mountains will open
that springs will gush –
that the dream will open,
that one morning we will glide into
some little harbour we didn’t know was there.
Sigrun, thank you for this. Here is my response, as a return gift to you: http://haroldrhenisch.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/a-journey-into-the-north/
That horse photograph is amazing. Best, Harold
Thank so much you!
The horse photo was captured by his wife, the artist Bodil Cappelen http://www.bodilcappelen.no/index.html
Is he translated into English in any collection or anthology?
Hi Ann,
I can only find this
The Dream We Carry: Selected and Last Poems of Olav Hauge
http://www.amazon.com/Dream-We-Carry-Selected-Norwegian/dp/1556592884
Oh, Robert Bly is one of the translators! Yes, I will have to look this up–thank you!
It is interesting to hear this Norwegian poetry. Next week I am going to Norway to complete an artist residency and to learn Hardangerfele, in Alvik, not so far from Ulvik. I am interested in gathering audio material from local people. I am particularly interested in folklore and story telling. The Norwegian language is so musical to listen to!
Have you any advice about other poets or famous Norwegian story tellers/stories?
It would be great to hear from you.
Many thanks.
Hi Susan,
I live further south in the country, and do not know this area very well, but here are some links that might be of interest to you:
http://www.haugesenteret.no/default.asp?menu=4466 http://www.aasentunet.no/default.asp?menu=94
http://www.visitulvik.no/
Hopefully the people at AiR Ålvik can be of more help to you.
Have a lovely trip!