A wild winter swan

was gunned down

by the sniper,

who had ruled the area

long before

the bird had spread its wings.

 

The animals have lost their sense of

self-preservation,

the lonely gunner thought, and she stayed to

observe the feast of the wolves.

 

A winter’s tale is not always sweet:

the descendant of the soldier of the Winter War

embraces the rough beat.

 

The life of a Finn is a bust,

and all a Finn can do is do what she must:

this one will never leave her post

even though she’s treated like a ghost.

---

Paula Puolakka (1982) is a Beat poet, writer, and MA (History of Science and Ideas.) She’s also the representative of the City of Oulu.

The official website, the City of Oulu: https://www.ouka.fi/oulu/munoulu/oulun-pienlahettilaiden-esittely

Puolakka’s interviews: https://spillwords.com/spotlight-on-writers-paula-puolakka/

(Spillwords Press, 20.11.2021.)

https://penable.net/2021/06/03/interview-with-author-paula-puolakka/ (Penable, 6.3.2021.)

https://refiction.com/community/2019-01-10-paula-puolakka (Re:fiction, 10.1.2019.)

http://kirjastolinkit.ouka.fi/kaleva/elo17/englanti.htm (The newspaper Kaleva, 22.8.2017. A library link.)