Without, by Timo Hännikäinen
This past year I translated an excerpt from a book of essays called Without (Ilman), by poet and provocateur Timo Hännikäinen, which is now available online. It’s about how hard it is to be a guy who can’t get laid, and is written in an almost academic style that is both thoughtful and amusing. Here’s a quote:
The psycho-physical effects of long periods of forced celibacy are rarely discussed in the literature. This is no doubt due to the painful and shameful nature of the subject. Ascetics, Roman Catholic priests, and other voluntary or professional celibates can always ennoble their suffering and ease their longing with the thought of what they are striving for. Those who are celibate against their wishes have nothing to give lustre to their fate. Worst of all, they don’t even dare to complain, because – particularly for men – not getting any provokes derision and contempt from people of both sexes.
You can read the entire (sexually explicit) essay at the Burning Bridge Project.
