FIRST DAY IN FINLAND BY MELINA GOTTLING

THE HOUSE IS CANOPIED IN GREEN AND THE RAIN DOSN'T FALL TO THE GROUND IT SIFTS THROUGH THE LEAVES MAKING A HOLLOW SOUND AS IT FALLS ON THE FERN AND GOOSEBERRYY BUSHES THAT ARE UNDER THE EAVES AND THE DRIPLINE OF THE TREES I CAN HEAR THE ROOTS DRINKING AND SWELLING GRATEFUL FOR THE COOL RAIN THAT FEEDS THEM RAIN FROM THE BALTIC SEA THAT KEEPS ME INSIDE AGAINST GRANDMA'S AND GRANDPA WINDOWSILL WITH DAMP MORNING GLORY CLINGING TO THE WINDOW PANES AND A WHOLE COUNTRY WAITING OUTSIDE I'M STUCK IN THE WHITE WASH COTTAGE FILLED WITH WAM BREATH OF BLUE BERRY TARTS AND MUSIC FROM 1950S HOLLY WOOD GRANDMA AND GRANDPA IS AT THE TABLE HUMMING AND MAKING CLOTH BODIES FOR THE HEADS HANDS AND FEET MADE OF CLAY AND SPREAD OUT ON THE TAABLE LIKE A DOLL'S MORGUE THE FINNISH/ENGLISH DICTIONARY SITS OPEN ON THE TABLE NEXT TO MY GRANDMA AND GRANDPA I SIT ACROSS THEM THEY SMILED I RELATE TO THE GOOSE BERRY BUSHES AND LOVE RAIN