Translated by Jayde Will
In Phenomena (translated from the Latvian, Paradibas) Eduards Aivars’ wry observations transform the mundanity of the everyday into words of quiet, thought-provoking beauty. Following his innovative principle of composition, the collection features many poems with long, expositional titles, which then culminate in a select few words, for example, 'The sad tale of the long-anticipated air pump', or 'The intense, but fleeting urge for domesticity and commitment'. Aivars talks about people, love and the life of a poet in this witty, reflective and unique collection.
Phenomena is part of the 'Parthian Baltic' project. The project was launched at the Parthian poetry festival at the Wheatsheaf and the London Book Fair 2018 (focus region: Baltics).
Eduards Aivars is a poet, short prose writer, essayist, and a long-time literary mentor and consultant of young and aspiring poets. Over the last thirty years, he has published nine collections of poetry, and several works of short prose, and his work has been translated into English, Ukrainian, Hungarian and Swedish. Aivars often collaborates with others, and his contribution to culture and literature reaches beyond his own writing. He has won the Prize of the Press House Original Literature Competition, the Poetry Day Award and been nominated for the Latvian Literature Award.