[Two important poles are represented in the poetry of Paavo Haavikko.] On the one hand, the world is real, unavoidable, but difficult to understand. One cannot help listening to its voice. On the other hand, man cannot expect permanence or stability. The world flows like his own speech, and in this changing world the only possibility of orientation is to "know almost everything yourself." This is man's basic situation in Haavikko's poetry. (p. 41)

Haavikko was twenty when he published his first book in 1951. The title Tiet etäisyyksiin could be translated somewhat inexactly as "The Ways to Far-away." This, with some of its central motives, gives the book a certain romantic undertone: there are deep shadows, decorative historical images, views of old houses and gardens. But these images are used in a personal way, illustrating the aims of the poet. The opening poem is typical: one has to...