Ukki lukee isoa kirjaa ja Toivo kuuntelee. 

 

I Go to Grandpa

 

I go to Grandpa
Grandpa makes firewood in the shed,
he cuts long logs into shorter pieces,
he splits them into smaller ones with an axe on a block.
Grandpa tells me about muskrat traps,
dried pikes, and heavily salted breams,
which are bundled in the loft of the other shed.
Grandpa makes me a horse from a stick and a piece of birch bark.

I go to Grandpa
Grandpa takes me in the boat, and we row to the lake.
Grandpa has many traps in the lake; 
we go around to check if there are any fish.
We get a good catch.
Grandpa enjoys fishing,
making traps and having fish.

I go to Grandpa
In his room, Grandpa takes me on his knee,
reads to me from a big book,
a story about an ancient strongman,
whose secret strength was hidden in his hair.

I go to Grandpa
I settle down for a nap beside Grandpa on the bed.
Grandpa gives me his big thumb,
I grip it tightly with my little fist.
I fall asleep against his safe back
and have beautiful dreams.

I go to Grandpa
Grandpa cleans fish behind the barn ramp.
I see his dark, wide-brimmed hat
swaying behind the Siberian pea shrub.
He has set aside the bream’s swim bladders on a board,
I get to pop the swim bladders.
I find it fun.

I go to Grandpa
Grandpa sits at his place at the long table
in the cottage.
Grandpa has cut the crusts from his bread,
spread them with butter, and gives them to me.
I eat them with the reverence and seriousness of a little boy; 
they taste good.
Grandpa makes small bites from his bread,
spreads them with butter, and offers them to me.
I eat them as delightful treats.

I go to Grandpa
Next to the barn ramp stands a horse with a sleigh behind it,
which is filled with burlap sacks.
I see Grandpa there, kneeling beside the sacks he has taken off his cap.
Grandpa tells me that he is asking The Heavenly Homestead for a blessing on the seed grain.
He tells me that he keeps in touch upwards
and thanks the one who lends the food.

I go to Grandpa
Grandpa lies on his final bed in the nursing home.
I introduce my fiancée to Grandpa,
Grandpa is delighted with our visit
and wishes us blessings.

Years go by,
my grandpa lives in my memories.
The rye bread he shared,
stories of ancient strongmen,
his big safe thumb
as I fell asleep for a nap.

The journey’s hardships begin to show
my hair is thinning, and I am no longer a strongman
my steps shorten, and I fear the hills.
Maybe soon I’ll climb the last one.

I go to Grandpa.