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Nälkämaan laulu

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Nälkämaan laulu (meaning "the song of the hunger country") is a Finnish poem by Ilmari Kianto. It was turned into a song by Oskar Merikanto.

The poem is a traditional poem from the region of Kainuu. Its lyrics describe the natural beauty of Kainuu, the hard-working nature (see sisu) of the Kainuu people, and their pride of their homeland.

The poem starts like this:

Kuulkaa korpeimme kuiskintaa,
jylhien järvien loiskintaa.
Meidänpä mainetta mainivat nuo,
koskien ärjyt ja surkeat suot.

In English:

Hear the whisper of our woods,
the splashing of the mighty lakes.
They are speaking of our reputation,
the fierce rapids and the dismal swamps.