Sirkka Selja (b. 1942) is one of the best known poets in Finland. The themes of her poems are taken from close range: chance occurrences, friends, animals, the family and dreams. She has published fifteen collections of poetry, most recently Puut herättävät muistini (The trees awaken my memory, 2000), which was entered for the Runeberg Prize. In 1987, she received the Aleksis Kivi Prize for her meritorious output. Her poems have been translated into English, French and Swedish.

Photo: C-G Hagström