New England Finns©

Hail! Those who developed abandoned farms
Men with ax in hand, a team of horses, women
with babes in arms,
changed overgrown lands to prosperous farms.
Haymakers, playmakers, dairyfolk and chicken barns
Among those valleys and hills
Forcing gardens to thrive between rocks 'n rills.

Carpenters, boatbuilders, fishermen, sailors,
merchants and tailors too.
Many with shifts in textile mills,
Others, energy to cutting logs
While for some Finns, cranberry bogs
provided the jobs!
Was that heavy and cold enough?
No! Off to stone quarries, their work, heavy
and rough!

Some answered college calls
Others entertained folk in Finn Halls
Many return, after years sojourn
Gladdened by music, Joulupukki's prancing.
Songs old and new
known by many, sung by few.
Dances forgotten by some, danced anew.
Some losses, many wins
Always with sisu and cooperation,
These New World Finns!

Lisa Herrala da Cunha

This poem was recited at FinnFunn Weekend in
Cape Cod, by the poet. It was also published
in the November 21, 2001 issue of Raivaaja, and
the February Finger Lakes Finns newsletter.