Although Jan Oskar Hansen lives in Portugal and writes in English, he has not lost the Nordic sentiment. 
 He admits to the strong influences of Scandinavian literature, old and new. His poetry is concise and wise. 
 Hansen uses no unnecessary words. 

Own Collection: 
Letters from Portugal published by Bewrite Books  Anthologies  
Shaken & Stirred and Routes published by Bewrite Books
listening to the birth of crystals Thepeoplespoet anthology 2   


  Homespun Haiku

  Bitterness is
  A lemon tree
  Never planted
  


  Frog in a pond.

Behind the village of Benafim there is
a manmade pond where I went fishing
and met a mud coloured frog who had
the nerve asking me to kiss it tenderly!
First I refused on the ground that it may 
turn out to be an effete prince. "No, no"
the frog said, "I'm a beautiful princess"
I looked around, picked it up, kissed it and threw it into the lake. 
A cascade of water and an Indian elephant waded ashore.
"You lied" I said. "Yes I did, you wouldn't have believed me if I had told the truth"



 Summer Grief.

A cold summer day in beginning of June, in the morning hailstones had fallen, 
now the day was clear and sharp. I was going on a train journey to another town; 
mother followed me to the station. In the compartment looking out she suddenly looked old, 
wore a shabby coat hadn't bother to comb her hair and she wore no make up. 
Waved as long as I could see her, then sat down tried to read a magazine 
but could not concentrate, was feeling terrible guilty for having been ashamed of my own mother.