The Old Woman and The Barefoot Maiden (Part VII)

As she closed her eyes for the last time, 

she caught a glimpse of Black Swan’s beautiful tar black feathers 

and felt softness encircling her 

Her soul breath –löyly—

ruffled the bird’s feathers like a soft wind

Black Swan flew over the dark forests, 

over the snow laden trees, 

holding tenderly her precious cargo

Black Swan flew over the Tunturi, 

along Linnun Rata, the Milky Way of Birds, 

then crossed the River Tuoni, 

bringing the Old Woman to Tuonela, 

the place of sleeping we all enter when we die

The old woman rested her weary bones. 

Tammi Kuu and Helmikuu passed….

it seemed Winter would never end!  

Then, 

Tuonen Tytti, the mistress of the forbidden abode, 

told the Old Woman it was time to return

The vāki—
the people, animals,  growing things and spirits 
of the Middle World—were waiting for her return

She must go back

Tuonen Tytti ordered the Black Swan 
to take the Old Woman 
to Middle World, the realm far above Manala

There she stood on the horizon, 
on the lovi, 
the opening joining the worlds

Her back bent over, 
she surveyed the great expanse of white 
that stretched beneath her feet as far as she could see

Tentatively, she took a step, 
her white felted boots 
leaving behind a puddle of melted snow

She took another and another, 
leaving puddles of water wherever she trod

With each step her back straightened 
and she grew stronger

By the time the rains started, 
her back was fully straight 
and she walked with a spring to her step

The rain washed away her old wrinkled skin, 
leaving in its place 
the luminous skin and eyes of a young maiden

The rain on her tongue rejuvenated her 
she spread her arms wide 
and whirled round and round

Beneath her bare toes, 
rivers and creeks swelled with water
 as Rain refreshed the winter weary land

The last vestiges of the old woman were washed away



To Be Continued ....