Ilmari's Lament

Ilmari's Lament

Amidst the days of isolation; amidst a world confused and cold
My heart gives me a revelation; to quench the thirst my passions hold
For years I worked and sought to grow, for years I tried and failed to know
Just what it was that made man whole- in spirit, body, mind, and soul.

This I saw in deepest slumber, in dreams I dare not count the number
A woman's kind and warm affection, that which gives a man direction
To face life's unforgiving trial, with calm resolve and even a smile
This greatest of joys once I knew, before my pleasant days were through.

Fate gazed down upon my lot, the curse of bondage marred my name
Revenge a battered bondsman sought, and came to be my loved one's bane
Alone and bitter then I grew, my godlike skills might remedy
This woeful anguish i now knew, my work new hope could bring to me.

I put aside my axe and saber, and committed my time to tireless labor
To fashion for myself a wife, and bestow to barren metals life
But my eager efforts were all in vain, my sorrowful soul still scarred with pain
So as wise Vaino suggested I do, I'll move on and start life anew.

2011


This is a poem I wrote in 2011, and I decided to post it today for "throwback Thursday." It was inspired by a story from The Kalevala, a work by Elias Lonnrot from Finland and it is considered that nation's national epic. The premise is the reflections of the blacksmith Ilamri after his wife had been murdered by an abused slave. Kullervo, a famous character in Finnish literature, is sold to Ilmari and his wife, but the wife mistreats him until one night Kullervo uses his magic power to summon wild animals to kill the wife. Kullervo runs away and Ilmari is left broken-hearted. Ilmari is the world's greatest blacksmith and tries to forge a wife for himself, but his efforts fail. His brother, the sage Vaino, consoles his brother and advises him to move on.

The images did not come out as clear as I hope (they never do), but I think the poem is the better aspect of this particular work anyway. My art skills weren't as refined back then as they are now.