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White-Water Singer [Jussi/Láilá, Niko]
Title: White-Water Singer
Fandom: Stand Still, Stay Silent
Characters/Pairing: SSSS original characters; Jussi/Láilá, as told by Niko
Rating: 0+
Length: 600 words/96 lines
Summary: Niko's song in memory of his father, Jussi, who died while navigating the dangerous river route connecting Kajaani to the outside world.
Other: Developing some characters from my Kajaani storyline. I wanted to explore the relationship that Niko's parents had together, and Niko's relationship with his father, but that's a little bit difficult when one of the parties is long-deceased, so I decided to get creative.
Many thanks to Laufey for helping me hash out the general idea behind transport in this region, the use of rivers for travel, and the difficulties of navigating Oulujoki. <3
Challenge prompt for this was "Family".
White-Water Singer
Of the seven years I knew you
my heart remembers
bright laughing eyes
strong arms, gentle hands
reaching down to scoop me up,
put me on broad shoulders.
When the river shook loose you took to it
packed up, set yourself upon it
and like your father before you
called together your convoy
of small boats on the water
following you like ducks
as you led them downriver.
Rushing, pressing, you sang the river
weaving words like a lover
sweet-talked it to calmness
lulled it as you passed through.
My mother laughed, said she was jealous
and maybe she was, had good reason for it,
as Oulu's river in the end
swept you up forever.
Mother sang her magic
while you rode the water
she strengthened our walls, conjured our refuge
stood ready to burn the old city
clear it out in bright sunlight
let fire lick the bones of Old Kajaani.
She sank herself to earth,
cleansed it with song
while you, river-rider
carried your goods,
speeding your convoy down white water.
When you returned, you brought her
news and stories, supplies and trinkets
marmalade and jam all the way from Iceland
coloured glass scavenged from Swedish ruins
bright woven bands red blue yellow green
a promise that elsewhere her people lived.
She treasured your presence, your safe return
and as you swept her in your arms
danced her around the kitchen
we all knew next spring
you would leave again.
The river took you one day
caught you up, turned your boat
dashed it in pieces on the rocks
and your crew limped home
short on cargo, worse for wear
calling by radio to cancel the pickup.
They spoke in hushed voices of shadows and rapids
something lurking below, gnarled hands reaching
and as you went down they saw nothing else
they thought you were gone in an instant
swept away in a second.
But I like to think
that you kept your senses
kept your eyes open
stared at the thing as it dragged you to darkness
and opened your mouth, gasped out a spell,
led it to peace through your song in the water.
My mother waited, sought you at night
in her dreams in starlight she looked for you
with hope and heart breaking
deep down she knew better.
She sought one year, she searched two
in vain she wandered a third
the fourth year in spring
she shook her head, boxed up your clothes
told me she'd save them for when I was older
and I, by then, understood
those lost to the river never return.
They say you were crazy, just like your father
you'd have to be crazy to brave that river
but they never complained
when the ice thawed
when the spring stirred
with cold reaching sun you slipped upriver
and brought with you Swedish goods
in boats weighed with all they could stand
carrying thread and cloth and jars of fruit
beads and toothbrushes, nails and flour
bullets and needles and copper wire
seed, ink, pens, and real printed books
and news to last the whole year.
Now as my hands pluck the strings
of the kantele you left behind
I dip into my mind for you
call up these memories of you
recalling the warmth of your voice
the strength of your hands
your song ringing as you embraced my mother
swung her around in joy
when you stepped into our house,
passed over the threshold
bringing us your safe return.
So let my voice call up the image of you
who trusted himself to white water
as I sing your memory and my mother's love
as you dream in your Tuonela.
Fandom: Stand Still, Stay Silent
Characters/Pairing: SSSS original characters; Jussi/Láilá, as told by Niko
Rating: 0+
Length: 600 words/96 lines
Summary: Niko's song in memory of his father, Jussi, who died while navigating the dangerous river route connecting Kajaani to the outside world.
Other: Developing some characters from my Kajaani storyline. I wanted to explore the relationship that Niko's parents had together, and Niko's relationship with his father, but that's a little bit difficult when one of the parties is long-deceased, so I decided to get creative.
Many thanks to Laufey for helping me hash out the general idea behind transport in this region, the use of rivers for travel, and the difficulties of navigating Oulujoki. <3
Challenge prompt for this was "Family".
White-Water Singer
Of the seven years I knew you
my heart remembers
bright laughing eyes
strong arms, gentle hands
reaching down to scoop me up,
put me on broad shoulders.
When the river shook loose you took to it
packed up, set yourself upon it
and like your father before you
called together your convoy
of small boats on the water
following you like ducks
as you led them downriver.
Rushing, pressing, you sang the river
weaving words like a lover
sweet-talked it to calmness
lulled it as you passed through.
My mother laughed, said she was jealous
and maybe she was, had good reason for it,
as Oulu's river in the end
swept you up forever.
Mother sang her magic
while you rode the water
she strengthened our walls, conjured our refuge
stood ready to burn the old city
clear it out in bright sunlight
let fire lick the bones of Old Kajaani.
She sank herself to earth,
cleansed it with song
while you, river-rider
carried your goods,
speeding your convoy down white water.
When you returned, you brought her
news and stories, supplies and trinkets
marmalade and jam all the way from Iceland
coloured glass scavenged from Swedish ruins
bright woven bands red blue yellow green
a promise that elsewhere her people lived.
She treasured your presence, your safe return
and as you swept her in your arms
danced her around the kitchen
we all knew next spring
you would leave again.
The river took you one day
caught you up, turned your boat
dashed it in pieces on the rocks
and your crew limped home
short on cargo, worse for wear
calling by radio to cancel the pickup.
They spoke in hushed voices of shadows and rapids
something lurking below, gnarled hands reaching
and as you went down they saw nothing else
they thought you were gone in an instant
swept away in a second.
But I like to think
that you kept your senses
kept your eyes open
stared at the thing as it dragged you to darkness
and opened your mouth, gasped out a spell,
led it to peace through your song in the water.
My mother waited, sought you at night
in her dreams in starlight she looked for you
with hope and heart breaking
deep down she knew better.
She sought one year, she searched two
in vain she wandered a third
the fourth year in spring
she shook her head, boxed up your clothes
told me she'd save them for when I was older
and I, by then, understood
those lost to the river never return.
They say you were crazy, just like your father
you'd have to be crazy to brave that river
but they never complained
when the ice thawed
when the spring stirred
with cold reaching sun you slipped upriver
and brought with you Swedish goods
in boats weighed with all they could stand
carrying thread and cloth and jars of fruit
beads and toothbrushes, nails and flour
bullets and needles and copper wire
seed, ink, pens, and real printed books
and news to last the whole year.
Now as my hands pluck the strings
of the kantele you left behind
I dip into my mind for you
call up these memories of you
recalling the warmth of your voice
the strength of your hands
your song ringing as you embraced my mother
swung her around in joy
when you stepped into our house,
passed over the threshold
bringing us your safe return.
So let my voice call up the image of you
who trusted himself to white water
as I sing your memory and my mother's love
as you dream in your Tuonela.