Kirjad. Jaan Kaplinski ja Tõnu Õnnepalu

This correspondence began with an interview-preface written for the book «Vaimu paik». When it was done, Jaan Kaplinski suggested that we could write more and perhaps make a separate book out of these letters someday. This conversation continued by letter almost until Jaan Kaplinski’s departure – from December 2020 to July of next year.

The correspondence between Jaan Kaplinski and Tõnu Õnnepalu is an enjoyable read. Kaplinski says in one of his letters that what he likes most in literature is what can be called intelligent chatter: «Perhaps such intelligent chatter is also something that helps us to float on the sea of ​​life’s loans without drowning and perhaps even walk on those loans, as some have said they did.»

This «chatter» is of course very substantial in the case of this tandem – it is a spiritual fireworks show, where gunpowder is not kept back and where, if necessary, each other is brilliantly opposed. This is openness and closeness at the highest level, with topics such as death, life and everything that goes with it. Such letters can probably only be exchanged once in a lifetime. Very personal questions are intertwined in these messages with big topics from the world around them. There is a lot of talk about nature, but also about religion, literature, language, history...

Thinking of Jaan Kaplinski: when the body becomes increasingly fragile and begins to shine through, the spirit shines brighter. Tõnu Õnnepalu is a very good spiritual partner for him, they are two equal soul keepers for each other. In an increasingly restless world, the calm, observant nature of the book offers great joy and refreshment.