Hedningarna - Veli

Olin ennen kuin olinki--
olin kuin omenankukka
puolankukka kumpareella
is kutsu kukkaseksi
emo pivn nousennaksi
sisoni sinikerksi

Lksin pienn paimenehen --
lassa lammasten kerlle
tulin rannalle ojasen
raita rannalla ojasen
tuolta poikanen putosi
solki suussa, vy kess

min raukka itkemhn --
poikanen kyselemhn
mits itket, nuori neito?
itkemp min jotaki
itken pient veikkoani
en ole sitten silmin nhnyt
pienn kun sotahan lhti
pienn kun sotahan lhti

l itke veikkoasi --
tuolta veljesi tulevi
alta linnan airot souti
plt linnan p nkyvi

min kurja kuulemahan
kurja ja katala katsomahan

veikko seisoi vieresni --
eessni emosen lapsi

==English translation==

I was in the days that are gone--
I was like an apple flower
A cowberry flower on a hillside
My father used to call me blossom
Mother used to call me sunrise
And a moon my sister called me

I went out to tend the cattle--
As a lassie out to herd sheep
To a brook I came thus herding
On the bank there stood a willow
From the willow fell a young lad
With a buckle, a belt in his hand

I, poor lassie, took to weeping,--
And the youngster wondered, asking
What is it you weep for, maiden?
There is something that I weep for
I do weep for my young brother
I have not seen him with my eyes
Since he went to war at a young age
Since he went to war at a young age

Do not weep for your young brother--
Look, there comes now your young brother
Under the castle oars are rowing
Above the castle the head is looking
I, poor lassie, began to listen,
I, the wretched one, started looking
I, poor lassie, began to listen,
I, the wretched one, started looking

But my brother stood beside me--
In front of me my mother's young one