Finnish poetry

[helen99]

Of course, the Finns have something to say about this:

"In the yard there grows a Rowan.
Thou with reverent care
Should'st tend it.
Holy is the tree there growing.
Holy likewise are it's branches.
On it's boughs the leaves are holy.
And it's berries yet more holy."

From The Kalevala, a compilation of Finnish
oral poems dating back to the first century A.D.

PS: No matter how holy they might be, don't eat any part of this tree, especially not the berries. I repeat, don't eat the berries...

Comments

[ivy]

[laughs a lot] I really should get to reading the Kalevala one of these days.

I was just thinking on my drive home from work today that I should really get to doing something with rowan. I'm a slacker. Strangely, I know less where to start with this one.

Rowan

[iliandriel.livejournal.com]

How lovely that poem. Quite enjoyed it.

[silvaerina-tael.livejournal.com]

Hey ho!! I'm back on LJ!! Btw, why shouldn't one eat rowan berries?? I know with yew, which is particularly toxic, the berries (pits removed) are quite edible.

[yldann.livejournal.com]

Yep, as long as you remove the seeds, the berries are ok. However, the berries are a bit small, and sitting there removing the seeds to make rowanberry jelly might be a bit of a task. Even if I did it, my inclination would be to give the jelly as an offering to the land...