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Dear mother Quote by Elias Lönnrot

“Once to swim I sought the sea-side, There to sport among the billows; With the stone of many colors Sank poor Aino to the bottom Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, Like a pretty son-bird, perished. Never come a-fishing, father, To the borders of these waters, Never during all thy life-time, As…” quote by Elias Lönnrot
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““Once to swim I sought the sea-side, There to sport among the billows; With the stone of many colors Sank poor Aino to the bottom Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, Like a pretty son-bird, perished. Never come a-fishing, father, To the borders of these waters, Never during all thy life-time, As thou lovest daughter Aino. Mother dear, I sought the sea-side, There to sport among the billows; With the stone of many colors, Sank poor Aino to the bottom Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, Like a pretty song-bird perished. Never mix thy bread, dear mother, With the blue-sea's foam and waters, Never during all thy life-time, As thou lovest daughter Aino. Brother dear, I sought the sea-side, There to sport among the billows; With the stone of many colors Sank poor Aino to the bottom Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, Like a pretty song-bird perished. Never bring thy prancing war-horse, Never bring thy royal racer, Never bring thy steeds to water, To the borders of the blue-sea, Never during all thy life-time, As thou lovest sister Aino. Sister dear, I sought the sea-side, There to sport among the billows; With the stone of many colors Sank poor Aino to the bottom Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, Like a pretty song-bird perished. Never come to lave thine eyelids In this rolling wave and sea-foam, Never during all thy life-time, As thou lovest sister Aino. All the waters in the blue-sea Shall be blood of Aino's body; All the fish that swim these waters Shall be Aino's flesh forever; All the willows on the sea-side Shall be Aino's ribs hereafter; All the sea-grass on the margin Will have grown from Aino's tresses.””

Elias Lönnrot

About This Quote

Source Poem: Aino's Lament (Kalevala)

The lament describes the tragic fate of Aino, who drowns after being forced into marriage, using vivid sea imagery and repeated pleas to illustrate loss and mourning.

In simple terms: Aino drowns, and the sea mourns her.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the power of repeated motifs in expressing grief.

Themes

mythology grief nature

Mood

somber poetic

Type

mythic lamentative

When to use this quote

  • cultural studies
  • poetry analysis
  • ritual storytelling

Key Concepts

repetition symbolic sea tragic heroism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does repetition affect emotional impact?
  • What does the sea symbolize here?
A Different Perspective

The poem’s repetitive structure may obscure nuanced interpretation.

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