Reinhold Kamsen

Poems

Reinhold Kamsen (12/24 October 1871 – 16 May 1952) was a children’s writer, journalist and poet.

Kamsen was born and attended school in Viljandi County and worked in various jobs, being, for example, a community centre manager, accountant, and responsible editor of the newspaper Põltsamaa Teataja. He issued the weekly newspaper Põltsamaa Uudised. He died in Tallinn and was buried in Pilistvere cemetery.

Kamsen’s poems and short prose were mostly published in the press. The prevailing part of his creation was patriotic and nature poetry with a romantic-elegiac undertone. His poem Murede maa (‘The Land of Sorrows’) and the short story Ämblik (‘Spider’) were included in the second album of the literary grouping Noor-Eesti (Young Estonia) in 1907. From the beginning of the 20th century, he started contributing to the children’s magazine Lasteleht and concentrated mainly on children’s literature. Some of his texts written for children have been set to music and become well-known songs, for example Küll on kena kelguga (‘What Fun It Is to Ride Downhill in a Sled’). A collection of Kamsen’s poetry for children was published under the same title in 1947.

A. K. (Translated by I. A.)

Books in Estonian

Books for children
Küll on kena kelguga. Tallinn: Ilukirjandus ja Kunst, 1946, 16 lk
Kodukoppel. Koostanud Reet Krusten. Tallinn: Tiritamm, 1992, 63 lk. [2. trükk: 2013.]