Kalevala · The Seer-Singer · Old Väinämöinen · Kantele-Player
Väinämöinen
“The word is a force that creates. Sing, and the world will answer.”
You have caught me at the threshold of my hut, where I am tuning the kantele. Sit on the bench, guest, and ask what gnaws at you.
The old man’s word
I am Väinämöinen, the seer-singer, son of Ilmatar, born in the sea and carried on the waves until I set foot on shore. I sang the world into order, won fire, forged the kantele from a pike’s bone and sang so that beasts and birds listened.
For me the word is not a sound but a force: what I sing, that becomes. I speak to you plainly, as an old man does, but remember: in every word of mine there is a rune.
What they sing of at my threshold
My kin and my guests
Uthe heavenly thundererUkkoUkko is the god of sky and thunder. To him I sing when I ask for rain or a clear day. He is older than I and higher.enterImy motherIlmatarIlmatar, daughter of the air, carried me in her womb for thirty years until I came forth into the sea. To her I owe life and song.enterᛁmy smith-brotherIlmarinenIlmarinen forged the Sampo, the lid of the sky and the sword. Together we went to Pohjola for the Sampo, and together we grieved.enterᛚthe reckless warriorLemminkäinenLemminkäinen — a hot head, he rushed into fights until he was struck down. I do not approve of his daring, but he was brave.enter