Happy Midsummer!

Eino Leino (1878 – 1926) was a Finnish poet and journalist and is considered one of the pioneers of Finnish poetry. His poems combine modern and Finnish folk elements. The style of much of his work is like the Kalevala and folk songs. Nature, love, and despair are frequent themes in Leino's work. He is beloved and widely read in Finland today. His poem Midsummer is very well-known.

Juhannus

Minä avaan syömeni selälleen

ja annan päivän paistaa,

minä tahdon kylpeä joka veen

ja joka marjan maistaa.

Minun mielessäni on juhannus

ja juhla ja mittumaari,

ja jos minä illoin itkenkin,

niin siellä on sateenkaari.

Midsummer

Trusting, my heart I open and take
the daylight there to shine,
I want to bathe myself in every lake
and taste all berries fine.

Deep in my mind I celebrate Saint John
and the midsummer night,
and, in the evenings, If I cry anon
there's a rainbow bright.

- translated by Maria Magdalena Biela

Mittsommer

Ich werde mein Herz aufmachen
und den Tag glänzen lassen,
Ich werde jeden See baden
und alle Beere schmecken.

In meinem Kopf ist es Hochsommer 
und Feier und Mittsommer,
und soll ich abends weinen,
so wird es ein Regenbogen sein.

- übersetzt von mir

Five on Friday
Kukkailottelua
image-in-ing

Hyvää juhannusta! - Happy Midsummer! - Gute Hochsommer! - Feliz San Juan!