Betti Alver

Betti Alver Poems

Betti Alver Biography

Elisabet "Betti" Alver (23 November [O.S. 10 November] 1906 in Jõgeva – 19 June 1989 in Tartu) (from the year 1937 Elisabet Talvik, and from the year 1956 Elisabet Lepik), was one of Estonia's most notable poets. She was among the first generation to be educated in schools of an independent Estonia. She went to grammar school in Tartu. She began as a prose writer. She became known for being a member of the Arbujad ("Soothsayers"), a small group of influential Estonian poets including Bernard Kangro, Uku Masing, Kersti Merilaas, Mart Raud, August Sang, Heiti Talvik and Paul Viiding. After the war her husband Heiti Talvik was imprisoned by the Soviets and died in Siberia. For two or three decades she was silent as a poet as protest of Soviet rule, but renewed activity in the 1960s. Of note in this second period is the 1966 collection Tähetund or "Starry Hour." She also wrote novels and did translation work. On the hundredth anniversary of her birth a museum was dedicated to her in Jõgeva.)

The Best Poem Of Betti Alver

A Tailor Called Sorrow

Yesterday in drizzling rain
on the road,
depression came
with its scissors open.

He put unhappy shirts
around the necks
of children,
and stitched black markings
on the lives of others.

Around the red faces
the tailor called sorrow
let a cloth with death silk
in it
hang,
and mingled white basting thread
in their hair.

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