VARRO VÄHÄN
by Zacharias Topelius · from Lukemisia lapsille 3
Adapted Version
Hello! Please wait for me. I am still waking up. Wait a little. I am very sleepy. The cold winter sleep is heavy. Wait a little. I am shaking off the frost. My eyes are still sleepy. I am yawning. I am stretching my arms.
Do not be mad at me. I have many things to do. I wash my face. I brush my hair. I am getting ready. I bind a wreath on my head. I look at the water. I must hurry. Please do not scold me. I am trying my best.
Wait a little! Look, my old dress is too small. My jacket is too short. I need new clothes. My socks are torn. I walk in the morning sun. I am growing. I need new shoes. I am stretching and growing.
Do not be surprised. I am already here. I am in the green grass. I am in the cool wind. I am in the soft water. I am here. I look up at the sky. I am in the warm sun. I am in the gentle rain.
But I am coming! Wait, beautiful forest! Wait, little flowers! I am coming soon. Hello, forest! Hello, flowers! I am coming to you. Wait, lovely meadow! Wait, little stream! I am coming. The winter trip is almost over. Do not worry. I am almost there.
I am a child. I am coming soon. I have long lessons to learn. But my heart is happy. Sing, little bird! Hope whispers in the flowers. Spring is still a child. I am smiling. I will bring flowers and sunshine for everyone!
Original Story
VARRO VÄHÄN
Varro vähän, sanoi kevä,
Kohta tulen ennättäin,
Päältän' härm' on hälvenevä,
Poistuu uni silmistäin;
Hangess' yhä haukotan,
Viel' en ole vaatteissan'.
Pyyhi kyynel värisevä,
Varro, kaunis ystäväin!
Älä toru, työt ne estää,
Viel' on paljo tehtävää:
Täytyy ensin silmät pestä,
Hiukset ensin silittää;
Päähän sidon seppelen,
Lähteen silmää katselen.
Kiire ompi. Ethän tästä
Soimaa kevät-ystävää!
Varro vähän! Näin on laita:
Hame käynyt vähäks' on,
Leninki on liian kaita,
Taannoisesta kelvoton,
Lyhyks röijyni ma sain,
Kenkiä ei ole lain,
Sukat rikki, kuljen maita
Karttain säteit' auringon.
Älä oudoksu, jos vielä
Aamuruskoss' aikailen.
Joka ruoho, min näet tiellä,
Joka vilpas tuulonen,
Rannall' aallon läiskytys,
Leivon kiitosviserrys,
Se min' olen, joka siellä
Silmän' nostan taivaasen.
Vaan mä tulen. Varro hetki,
Kaunis metsä, varro vaan!
Vartokaa te purosetki,
Kohta luoksenne ma saan.
Varro, keto armainen!
Varro, kukkasarkanen!
Varro, pääss' on talven retki,
Eipä hätää laisinkaan.
Poika, tyttö pienokainen.
Laps' näet olen minäkin,
Täytyy olla kuuliainen,
Ja on läksyt pitkätkin.
Mutta miel' on iloinen.
Laula, laula leivonen!
Toivo kuiskaa kukkivainen:
Kevät laps' on vieläkin!
Story DNA
Moral
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Plot Summary
The poem features Spring, personified as a young girl, asking for patience from the eagerly awaiting world. She explains she is still shaking off winter's sleep, preparing herself, and needing new 'clothes' for her arrival. Despite not being fully present, she assures everyone she is already subtly visible in nature's small signs. She promises her imminent arrival, revealing that she is still a child, learning her lessons, but filled with joy and hope for the future.
Themes
Emotional Arc
anticipation to fulfillment
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Zacharias Topelius was a prominent Finnish-Swedish author, known for his fairy tales and patriotic writings, often drawing on Finnish nature and folklore.
Plot Beats (6)
- Spring, personified, asks for patience, explaining she is still shaking off winter's frost and sleep.
- She tells her audience not to scold her, as she has many preparations to make, like washing her eyes and combing her hair.
- Spring laments that her old clothes are too small and worn, indicating she needs new attire for her arrival.
- She reassures everyone that she is already present in the small signs of nature, like grass, breezes, and lapping waves.
- Spring declares her imminent arrival, addressing the forest, brooks, meadows, and flowers, urging them to wait just a moment longer.
- She concludes by identifying herself as a child, still learning her long lessons, but filled with a joyful spirit and hope.
Characters
Kevät (Spring)
A small, delicate figure, still emerging from the remnants of winter. Her form is initially obscured by frost and the sleep of winter, but she is described as having a youthful, perhaps slightly disheveled appearance from just waking up. She is not yet fully formed or dressed, implying a slender, ethereal build.
Attire: She is described as not yet being in her 'clothes,' implying a state of transition. Her old 'skirt' and 'dress' are too small or tight, and her 'jacket' is too short, suggesting she is outgrowing her winter attire. She has no 'shoes' and her 'socks' are torn. She intends to bind a 'wreath' on her head, likely of fresh spring blossoms or greenery.
Wants: To fully awaken and bring life, warmth, and beauty back to the world after winter. She wants to fulfill her role as spring and reunite with her 'friends' (nature elements).
Flaw: Her vulnerability to the lingering cold and her initial unpreparedness. She is also sensitive to criticism ('Don't scold').
She transitions from a sleepy, somewhat disheveled state, hesitant to fully appear, to a fully awakened, joyful, and vibrant bringer of life. She overcomes her initial shyness and physical unpreparedness to embrace her role.
Playful, a bit mischievous (delaying her arrival), diligent (many tasks to do), hopeful, joyful, and somewhat self-conscious about her appearance. She is also nurturing, as she embodies the life-giving force of spring.
Locations
Thawing Nordic Landscape
A transitional landscape where the last vestiges of winter's frost and snow are melting away, revealing the nascent signs of spring. The ground is still partially covered in snow ('hangess' yhä haukotan'), but the 'härm' (hoarfrost) is dissipating. There's a sense of awakening, with hints of green emerging beneath the melting snow.
Mood: Anticipatory, fresh, quiet, hopeful, a sense of gentle awakening.
The personification of Spring is still 'waking up' and preparing to fully arrive, asking for patience as winter recedes.
Nordic Forest Edge with a Spring
A vibrant, awakening Nordic forest edge where a clear spring ('lähteen silmää') reflects the sky. The ground is becoming green with 'joka ruoho' (every blade of grass), and the air is filled with 'vilpas tuulonen' (cool breeze). This is where Spring will adorn herself with a 'seppelen' (wreath) and observe her reflection.
Mood: Refreshing, pure, serene, a place of natural beauty and self-reflection.
Spring prepares herself, washing her eyes and smoothing her hair, reflecting on her appearance in the spring water.
Lakeside Meadow and Stream
A lively Nordic landscape encompassing a 'keto armainen' (beloved meadow), 'purosetki' (small streams), and a 'rannall' aallon läiskytys' (lapping waves on the shore), implying a lake or large body of water. This is a place full of natural sounds and life, where the 'leivon kiitosviserrys' (lark's grateful chirping) is heard.
Mood: Joyful, vibrant, welcoming, full of life and natural music.
Spring promises her imminent arrival to all the elements of nature, reassuring them that winter's journey is over.