Notes from Wikiquote
This I have pondered very frequently | when people’s daily lives there I review. | Oh why are all our beautiful ones dying | and why do great ones rot in disarray? | Oh why among us many minds are losing? | Oh why so few the kantele now play? | Oh why here everywhere a man soon crashes | like hay when scythed – ambitious man indeed | a man of honour, sense – it all soon smashes | or breaks apart one day in life of need? | Elsewhere, a fire still glints in greying tresses | in old ones glows still spirit of the sun. | But here our new-born infants death possesses | and youth will grave’s dull earth soon press upon. | And what of me? Why ponder I so sadly? | An early sign, be sure, of grim old age. | Oh why the blood-spent rule keep I not gladly | but sigh instead at people’s mortal wage? | One answer is there only: Lapland’s summer. | In thinking then my mind is soon distressed. | In Lapland birdsong, joy are short – a glimmer – | as flowers’ blooms and gladness wilt and rest. | But winter’s wrath is only long. Dear moment | when resting thoughts delay and don’t take flight | in search of lands where blazing sun is potent | and take their leave of Lapland’s icy bite. | Oh, great white birds, you guests of summer Lapland | with noble thoughts we’ll greet you, when you’re here! | Oh, tarry here among us, build your nests and | a while delay your southern journey near! | Oh, from the swan now learn a lesson wholesome! | They leave in autumn, come back in the spring. | It’s our own peaceful shore that us-wards pulls them | Our sloping fell’s kind shelter will them bring. | Batter the air with whooping wings and leave us! | Wonders perform, enlighten other lands! | But when you see that winter’s gone relieve us – | I beg, beseech, re-clasp our weary hands! | (Lingua Fennica, translation by Rupert Moreton)