The Finnish poet Jukka Itkonen has been a regular visitor to Barga over a couple of decades (article here)-
Amongst this new influx of people visiting Barga, one person has been visibly more noticeable than most. A thin, gangly man with his long blonde hair topped off with a hat, striding through Barga Vecchia in large seemingly oversized boots and with the gait that perhaps gave more of an idea of a round the world yachtsman after reaching land for the first time in many months.
A bright orange half length leather coat complete with large expanses of boa constrictor snakeskin on the front sides and back complete the striking image. Once seen not forgotten. The Finnish poet Jukka Itkonen was in town once again.
Jukka Itkonen on Wikipedia (in Finnish)
Jukka is now back in his native Finland but this week he sends greeting to all our readers with a Christmas poem:
WINTERDREAM
Time passes slowly
Up here in Finland.
The trees are standing snowly,
Snow covers the sand.
My mind is the dream
Where a songbird is sleeping,
Songbird is sleeping
In the winterly dream.
My poem is the snow
And the snow is the stream.
*
Happy X-mas
Jukka Itkonen
Now is probably a good time to publish a fairly lengthy interview (in English) with Jukka recorded outside Aristo’s in Barga Vecchia in 2011 where he talks about life, poetry, making music and paintings and near death experiences
Recently released song from the tenor Ari-Matti Hedman with lyrics written by Jukka Itkonen
Jukka Itkonen,sanoitus ja Jukka Nykänen,sävellys Ari-Matti Hedman’in tulkitsemana romanttinen klassis-moderni joululaulu johon pääkokki Jukka Nykäsen (piano,koskettimet) ohella mausteensa (kuoro,basso) keitokseen heittää Kosusen Rele