The Kalevala Poem by Nicholas Green

We threw the side-axe into Death's throat.
Over the side of the sea
We blew our oars. Our sails
Became wind-fat, eager to reach
A paunchy Northland.

Some men held fast their pikes against
Death's arm, its breath.
They pushed its breath back with their loyalty.
Steady old ship Captain
Knew the copper sea better than Death;
He traced its gullies with our prow
And hammered it with a compass.

Now, roar over the sides!
Stupidly put together Death
Breathes it moulds over the gunwale!
The ship is a broken piston,
But still the lads batter at the
Marauder with their wills!
Steady old tree-beard raps us on.
Sword high, beard high, he eggs us on
To evict brassy Death!

Now the taloned One breathes over the side.
Suddenly we remember the milk-bed,
The braided one, the warm cow byre,
The kindness in breath, the dog-hearth,
A home hanging from a thread of smoke.
As the taloned One scours us we pray uphill:
‘Bright lid of the Sampo crack open!
Swallow unforged Death with a crack of song! '

And then bright beard he throws up his myths,
And he is again Captain of his sword,
And he brings navigation crashing
Down on Death's neck.
And we throw back our verses and laugh!

(C)All Rights Reserved