I happen to be a huge history nerd and have a nation crush on Finland. I mean, the Winter War is possibly the coolest thing I've ever heard of and helped me write an absolutely wonderful report over it. My history obsession sometimes blends into my love of poetry and when that happens....
Reindeer of Suomi (1939-1945)
Hooves alive with the thundering of millions of hearts
Antlers strong and branching, the arms of its people
Fierce and wild deep inside
Ready to protect itself, protect its children
All of which fuel its body, give it life
A proud creature trapped between two monsters
To the East, the Russian bear, enormous and starving
To the West, approaching from the South, a soaring eagle
Both fighting to devour the same spirit
To chain its people
Both fought off by the sheer will and cunning
Of a reindeer with the claws and fangs of a lion
Beautiful and elegant, a creature of mystery and magic
Back legs lashing out at the bear
Eyes never leaving the eagle, the looming threat
And though flesh is torn and blood is spilt
The reindeer's hind legs quivering with exhaustion
He finally collapses, weak but alive and free
The bear snarls as it slowly retreats into the shadows
Rage at having lost to prey overcoming the taste of blood
At having failed to kill this creature not once, but twice
The reindeer calls sadly to its brothers:
The white bear, the moose, the swan, and the fish
A little of their inner strength passes on to him
Warming him through the darkest, coldest nights
Until the blood lust and war cease, the winter pulls on
As his world gets colder and colder...
Without even his brothers standing at his side
He resists the soaring eagle even as he stands underwing
And his fighting spirit will never be lost!
Long live Suomi, land of ice and snow
Home of everlasting courage
I wonder if I should have put which animals represent which countries.
