Kalevala - poem Joukahainen's revenge

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Joukahaisen's Revenge


In Pohjola, Joukahainen was bitter about his loss and wanted revenge. He made an arrow from a bowgun and was going to shoot Väinämöinen.

It was young Joukahainen
A skinny boy from Lappa
Had a grudge for weeks,
I have an ugly roof
Together with old Väinämöinen
On the singer forever.

Prepare a fiery bow,
The beautifier of the noble arch;
I'll pile on the soap diatoms,*
Triple brace size.*
Got the hammers ready,*
To tension the spring.

*piili and Vasama mean bow gun arrow. The three quill refers to the fact that the tail of the arrow has three quills in the shape of a star to stabilize the arrow's flight.

Joukahainen waited a week. The mother was worried and forbade shooting Väinämö. Joukahainen started to hesitate, but finally fired.

That's young Joukahainen
Already a little thoughtful;
A little bit silly:
The hand told me to shoot,
One hand commanded, the other forbade,
Fingers veins forced.

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