nPosted on July 6, 2017
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Key points
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nFly your flags, Finland, in honor of poet Eino Leino!
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nIn the past, I noted that Finland celebrated the birthday of its National Poet and of the thousands of verses of Finnish folklore and mythology that is the Kalevala. Well, this poetry-loving nation also celebrates Eino Leino, who was born on this date in 1878. Leino is known as a pioneer in Finnish poetry.
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nLeino was one of ten children, the youngest of seven brothers. He published his first poem at age 12, and by 18 he had published a collection of poems. He earned a lot of positive reviews from critics and joined literary circles and became a journalist.
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nHis influence as a journalist started to wane (dwindle) when the Finnish Civil War ended with Finland under the sorta-kinda rule of Germany – and this while Germany was embroiled in World War I! I read that Leino’s optimism and idealism about an independent and unified Finland collapsed. About half a year after the civil war ended, World War I ended – and suddenly Finland WAS free and independent!
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nAt that point, Leino was given a state writer’s pension, and he continued to publish a lot…but his health went downhill, and he died at age 47.
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nHere are some beginnings of several of Leino’s poems:
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nMoor hen’s song dwells lonely in my ears
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nabove the spikes the full moon is burning
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nsummer night is my own happiness
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non the valleys, clearing smoke is shrouding. – Nocturne
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nHe who is Fire, let him serve the Fire.
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nAnd from the Earth who is, be Earth entire.
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nBut for who wants to climb Heaven along
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nWith Kantele a player sings a song:
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nWhat are we? Only ashes? Only dust?
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nNo! For the thought rises from Earth with trust.
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nIt’s our destiny to be ashes once. – Hymn to the Fire
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nWhen over the woods the daylight was dawning,
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nthe young maid was walking on the grass,
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nthe flowers already opened their buds-morning
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nthat yesterday evening they had closed their eyes. – When Over the Woods
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nRemember you, love at first sight,
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nnightingales sing in empty soul
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nin darkness of my empty night. – Apart
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nFinland has so much natural beauty, no wonder so many people are inspired to write poetry!
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nAlso on this date:
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Jan Hus Day in Czechia
Jan Hus Day in Czechia
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nIndependence Day in Comoros
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nRepublic Day in Malawi
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nAnniversary of Althea Gibson’s win at Wimbledon
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nArtist Frida Kahlo’s birthday
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nPlan ahead:
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nCheck out my Pinterest boards for:
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nJuly holidays
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nJuly birthdays
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nHistorical anniversaries in July
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nAnd here are my Pinterest boards for:
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nAugust holidays
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nAugust birthdays
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nHistorical anniversaries in August
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