1997
HERE, 1997
“And she launched a boat with three planks on the waves and started rowing.” Kalevala, Runo 7
In our mother’s mother’s birthplace her very front yard here my mother, sisters, I walk the very path here, very here, this. This very river in Vimpeli, Finland here this yellow spherical old church here this ancient brown swift river Did she swim in this ancient river? Here we her American children come to see to feel to touch. No, the river runs fast and deep, the very view she saw here her whole young life. She was a very good swimmer. This very old church steeple here. These new green reeds here. She swam to the middle of the lake. She would float for hours at camp. Here, dream time on Lake Lappäjarvi after she left here, 1906, she never returned. © Jane Piirto. All Rights Reserved.