The early poetry of Jaroslav Seifert

the long version

Seifert's poetry is strongly situated within the Czech literary tradition of Poetism, which evolved into a playful, lighthearted refuge from world history while maintaining an edge of social consciousness. The playfulness of Seifert's early poetry expresses itself in anecdotes and witty aphorisms, and relies importantly on such sound patterns as alliteration, assonance, and euphony. Dana Loewy's adept translations maintain the play and verve of Seifert's originals: the sensuality, eroticism, Epicureanism, and humor of Seifert's work is stunningly evident. Beyond its obvious aesthetic interest, Seifert's early poetry also has a specific historical value as a manifestation of the avant-grade in the Europe of the 1920s and 1930s. Loewy's perceptive introduction to the volume provides a historical and cultural context for Seifert's work.