Kaija Tanskanen
Poet and teacher
Kaija Tanskanen was an artist and researcher by nature. She was a writer, poet and poetry performer; by profession, she taught music and children’s vocal technique.
Her interests included the study of ethics, religions and concepts of nature. She supported free thought and UNICEF, dreamed of peace and cooperation among nations and was devoted to the sciences and the arts. She was sensitive yet persistent.
She was a great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, wife, woman, individual, family member, community-minded, respectful of others, humorous, funny, perceptive, feisty and outspoken. She was also an affectionate comforter, devoted to the things she cared about, willing to put herself on the line, fearful and vulnerable, yet a courageous guide. All of these qualities sought expression in her work.
Website
Three sections
This website presents Kaija and her work in three sections. The first, titled About, introduces her, provides biographical information, highlights significant years in her life and includes a list of her published works.
The middle section features frequently asked questions, while the Works section presents her body of work.
Birthday celebration
Happy 100th birthday!
The year 2026 marked the centennial of Kaija’s birth. We want to remember her and revisit her writings. We discover new poems and recall old ones that, in Kaija’s words, “stir our hearts.” We may browse her other publications and find ourselves delighted or sobered by her many perceptive observations.
To honor her birthday, an exhibition was organized at Lappeenranta Library in 2026, and this website was launched. It includes most of Runoja Sipoosta, her most extensive poetry collection.
