SOURCE: An introduction to "Kanteletar: Women's Voices," in Books from Finland, Vol. XXIII, No. 3, 1989, pp. 159-61.

In the following excerpt, Timonen briefly reviews the content and organization of the Kanteletar and describes Lönnrot's role in compiling the collection.

An Excerpt from Kanteletar, Translated by Keith Bosley:

Grinding song
 Mouth draws wolf into the trap
 tongue draws stoat into the snare
 will a maid into marriage
 wish into another house.
 Grind, grind, young maiden
 grind, young maiden's will
 grind, hand and grind, foot
 grind, mitten and grind, stocking
 grind, grindstone and grind
 a maid to a husband's house:
 she has a mind for a man
 smoulders for the village boys.
 A boat's will is for waters
 a ship's will for waves
 a maid's will is for marriage
 her wish into another house;
 for a maid even at birth
 a daughter is lulled
 from papa's to husband's house
 from...