Linda Mence
- Latvia -
Linda Mence (ex Gabarajeva 1992) is a Latvian poet, publicist and translator. She has published two poetry collections: “Apļi” (The Circles, 2023) and a poetry book for children “Kosmoss ir virs bēniņiem” (The Space Above the Attic, 2024). Her collection “Apļi” received Ojāra Vācieša Poetry Prize and Latvian Literature Annual Award for best debut.
Linda Mence also writes essays and short stories. Her works have been published in magazines “Strāva”, “Žoklis” and “Domuzīme”, as well as in internet journals “Punctum” and Satori”.
Mence has studied anthropology and English literature in Mercer University (USA), for one semester – theology in University of Latvia, she has a bachelor’s degree from Latvian Academy of Sports Education and master’s degree in Printmaking from Art Academy of Latvia. In her master’s thesis Mence has made illustrations of 16 virtues from “Ordo Virtutum”, an allegorical morality play, written by Hildegard of Bingen around 1151. This corresponds to her long-term interest about historically important women, extraordinary states of consciousness and Medieval art.
Albeit, she has come into the field of Latvian literature relatively recently, Mence’s voice is distinguishable and singular, containing quiet strength and freshness, which allows seemingly commonplace objects and phenomena to be transformed into focal and unexpected images of solid, sometimes slightly mystic poetics.
Writer and Latvian Literature Award jury member Ieva Melgalve, reflecting on Mence’s collection “Apļi”, says: “It's hard to believe that this is a debut collection – it seems to focus not only on the author's own vision of the world, but also a rather unique overview of what is important and fascinating in poetry in general. Linda Gabarajeva has taken on a difficult task – to write not "from scratch", but being fully aware of how all previous influences and currents continue in her; she is a medium and a filter that continues a poem begun very long time ago. Lightness and wit, playful reinterpretation – including a feminist take on “masculine” tropes – and at the same time respect for the content and form of what has been read before.”
Mence’s poems for children are lively and playful, however they also depict serious and sometimes even scary experiences and ordeals; when addressing children, Mence isn’t trying to trivialize or simplify reality, but rather she finds a way, how to stay honest, in the same time being funny, sympathetic and age-appropriate. The publisher “Liels un mazs”, characterizing “Kosmoss ir virs bēniņiem”, points out: “Linda's poems have an unadorned realness, freshness of intonations. There is a sense of respect for the absolute existential seriousness of childhood, which cannot be replaced or embellished with diminutive or well-meaning instructions. Gabarajeva does not do this, the images and metaphors in her poems grow out of the truth of life. The world in these poems can be touched, smelled, heard, felt as a slightly dangerous adventure that can be embarked on by firmly holding a parent's hand.”
Mence has translated Edgar Lee Masters, Christina Rossetti and other authors. In the winter of 2024 Mence translated into Latvian an essay “Gaza Asks: When Shall This Pass?”, an essential work about Israel’s long-term occupation and violence in Gaza, written by Palestinian poet, scholar and activist Refaat Alareer; essay was read in poetry readings, held in Riga in March 2024 to commemorate and mourn Palestinians killed in Gaza after October 7, 2023, the essay was later published in Punctum Magazine.
Mence has also participated in public discussions and written about such topics as experience of depression and mental illness and women’s perception and objectification in sports.
Katrīna Rudzīte
Poetry
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desires / vēlmes
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hot baths / siltas vannas
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*** / ***
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I. song of the basket maker / I grozu pinēja dziesma
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II. song of the weaver / II audējas dziesma
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III. song of the potter / III podnieces dziesma
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children / bērni
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the very ones / tie viņi
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Daira’s garden / Dairas dārzs
