Hirdan Gersenga

Hirdan Gersenga (15 May 1542 - 22 September 1601), more well-known under his pen name Erivinkisa meaning "Aged Quill", was a Risevan writer who is often regarded by Risevani as being one of their greatest writers. Working mostly in poetry while also being an expert essayist, Gersenga produced a total of about 430 poems and nearly 700 essays which have survived to this day; his essays, which are termed by him to be Kisa ta Omadeye or "The will of the pen", are considered pioneers of the form.

Some of his most famous works include his long poems, which he titled Navno te Wasantosa (meaning The New Wasantosas, the term referring to a specific sort of ode within the ancient poetic text Sayenfurasa), the longest of which - the Erunmitir ta Wasantosa or ode of Erunmitir - contains nearly 5,200 lines and has had a profound effect on literature even up to the modern era. His essays, on the other hand, portray a very different side of him; mostly composed during his years in the wilderness of modern-day Enimdanoi Province, they possess a tone very different from that of his poetry, concerning themselves with nature while holding deep philosophical musings as well.

The impact that Gersenga has had on modern Risevani culture cannot be overstated; he is often considered the national poet of the whole nation, so much so that he is often referred to as Risevne ta kisa or "The Pen of Risevne". His works have been translated into most major living languages and are read across the world.

Later Life

Given these numerous tragedies that befell his family, Gersenga soon fell into a deep depression; it was somewhere in this period that he finally decided to leave Isana. In a letter to Queen Sesorna, who under the First Constitution had the power to approve of resignations from the Afengar, he made an impassioned plea to be allowed to return to his hometown, and his request was granted; a month later he returned to Kairsan with his only surviving daughter Eduna.

While living in Kairsan, he retired from most politics, and twice rejected calls from the local leaders to serve within the provincial government; he did, however, push for the marriage of his daughter with the son of the provincial governor, who belonged to one of the most influential clans in the area. This marriage arrangement, as well as the fact that the Queen had personally arranged for him to receive half his official stipend even after he had retired, meant he was financially quite comfortable; certainly he had the luxury to make several tours to the east, the longest of which in 1592 took him all the way to modern-day eastern Baseniga province.

Works

Hirdan Gersenga's poetry is mostly admired for its wide variety of forms and themes; critics over the ages have called him as Sabarus ta enigai, Aina ta munai, Nidui ta gebarse, Suninas ta iyane, shai ge onevano ("Possessing the spirit of Sabarus, the sorrow of Aina, the ambition of Nidui, and the lightness of Suninas").

Legacy and Impact

The birthtown of Gersenga, which is the present day town of Kairsan in Enimdanoi Province, contains several memorials to the poet.