Maidens Bathing in the Sea
A translation of Merenkylpijä-neidot What is that swish of geese at the bend of the White Sea river? Three maidens of Hiisi left their feathers on a rock and went bathing in the sea; they arrive at sunset, disappear at dawn. Lippo the fowler, watching from behind a coloured rock, saw the fairest of all wings. Already dawn was painting the clouds red. The maidens rose from the sea, two of them found their wings; the third sought hers, to no avail. She began crying. Lippo the unctuous suitor spoke: “You can have your feathers back if you kiss me.” The lovely maiden of frost said: “The moment I kiss you is the moment your eyes go dark.” The ruddy fellow jeered: “Let my eyes go dark when you call me your darling.” Already dawn was painting the mountains red. “The moment I call you my darling is the moment you have a change of heart.” “Let me have a change of heart when you hold me as your little bird.” “The moment I hold you as my little bird is