Savu Sauna (poem)

Then Lemminkäinen’s mother /

put out food quickly/

while the bath-hut got prepared /

and the sauna made ready” Runo 26

SAVU SAUNA

savu = smoke

smoke of the dim past

smoke of the old farm

smoke of the chimney

we sit in old smoke

in a sauna new Finland

we undress

in a large

changing / eating room

wooden tables chairs

benches on the side

eight females

one boy, age seven

we Americans joking

“he might get secret desires

about the bodies of middle aged women”

sauna smoke heating for hours

we grope along benches

on the raised platform

black stove in front topped with rocks

a hose with clear cold water

out of the wall near the door

up top large wooden barrels

very hot water sauna-heated   

Our directions from our hostess:

“take cold water to the bench”

“dip hot water out of the barrels”

“do not throw water on the rocks for

 long —  about fifteen minutes”

sit and sweat

take it slow

our sooty bums

stick to paper mats

we feel the pure sweat flow

our feet on planks

children leave sauna first

go down to the river to jump in

we walk 100 flat rocks embedded in sand

to the river bank

we step off the path onto grass

we walk on grass to the narrow ladder

rungs spaced 8 inches

we lower– careful —

into brown tannic water

OOH! the first shock of feet

hitting cold ether

then turn around.  Now.

dive in!  Whoo!

Mother says

 “This is not as cold

 as Lake Superior.”

“But what is?”

Rebecca plays tricks

steps into sauna

as we bask in dark

the sole light the light

from the dim smoke hole

middle top of the back wall

She snaps a flash picture

retreats to our screams

we joke in our sweaty ease

shall we design a web page

 “Hot Mamas?”

“in the flesh?”

“in glorious smoking color?”

now we sip sima[1]

near beer and

red strawberry juice

we gulp ice water

straight from the cool hose

bend over a red plastic basin

shampoo, wash

crotches, underarms, and plump bodies

run soaped to the river to dive in

again and again.

after our sauna

on the drive to the farmhouse

we see double rainbows on wet fields.

they offer us food

beers, cold cuts, white cheese,

breads, coffee, and wine.

we talk some

read from the Kalevala

until 2 a.m.

it is not dark yet.

our yawns overtake

our well saunaed will

we finally sleep hot

with mosquitoes

poking probisci into our dreams

^[1] A fruit drink