I happened to read an essay Esther wrote for a Norwegian magazine about youth, identity issues and relationship problems. I was struck by her mentioning how important poetry in general, and Episode in particular, had been to her own development. So I contacted her and told her about my project and asked whether she felt the poem had changed her life. She confirmed this and consented to an interview. I had read some of Hagerup's poetry before, but enjoyed the opportunity to read up on it. I found Episode very moving in its simplicity and truthfulness. I drove out to her home on the outskirts of a large town in the eastern part of Norway. She greeted me warmly. The interview took place in her study, surrounded by all her books.

Thor: I've brought the poem. Would you like to read it for me?

Esther: Fantastic! Yes, I would. Should I perhaps find the book in which I first encountered the poem, though?

Thor: Yes please, that would be great.

Esther: Right. This book of poetry is the one we used in school. This must have been in 1967. We had to read Wergeland and Welhaven and all that. Which was nice. Look, the book opens almost of its own accord onto that particular page! I'm not sure how old I was then, I must have been 16 or 17, when I was in the gymnasium. One is quite green at that age, haha. The poem made a really deep impression at that time. Should I say something about why it did?

Thor: Please do.

Kitchen Sink Drama

Esther: I grew up in the 50s. I was born in 1951, into what was then a typical family, where mum was a housewife and dad went to work. And he came and went, as men did in those days. She was, I would say, placed by the kitchen sink by coercion. Because she did not really want to stay at home. She had an education and wished to work, but that was entirely out of the question. She had studied at a college of commerce, which was regarded as a good qualification then. And she had several years of experience from the accountancy department in the little town where she lived.