ALFHILD

Lauri Viita(1916-1965)

Only mothers, those mighty in hope,

see God.

To them has been given the strength and power

to rise in sleep from beneath clouds

and to gaze from higher.

Alfhild, she who birthed me,

has sailed there each night,

where now Eemeli coming and going,

only grunts, like also here formerly.

There they now go in a string of stars

a bright trail,

father and mother, in a row.

From there they watch the homely hill,

cats, dogs, familiar people,

waving and hailing as best as they can,

so that none of us would hurt our feet

on Pispala's stones.

There they on some planet

in a garden swing under a rowan tree

silently linger in the memories of youth

as a bridal couple in Tampere's parks -

buying coffee and buns probably,

if it happens to be Friday. -

And then, when Pispala morning gains,

my mother makes the bed,

and birds, birds sing --.

- Oh how wonderful it is to live

and to lull your grandchildren

and tell about one's beautiful dreams!

So great is God's heaven and earth,

oh my children, love!

(Alfhild, 1947).

#LauriViita #FinnishLiterature #FinnishPoetry Poem #Poem Poems #Poems Poetry #Poetry #Runo #Runo #Runoja Runoja Runot #Runot #Runous Runous