This is the incredible 9-verse poem âSataaâ by Roman Schatz, telling a full story using only the vowel âAâ. It highlights how diverse Finnish language can be even under harsh limitations. Two whole verses are exclusively about making love, as youâll see. Amateur translation by me.
Sataa               (Itâs raining)
Sataa. Matalassa rantamajassa   (Itâs raining. In a low shoreline cabin)
takka palaa, samppanja avataan. (the fireplace is on, champagne is opened.)
Tavan takaa tapaavat rakastavat (Lovers meet as they have before)
Sanna ja Masa                  (Sanna and Masa)
halaamaan                     (to hug)
salaa.                          (in secret.)
Lakana kahahtaa                     (Sheets rustle)
ahnas naaras paljaana lampaantaljalla. (ravenous female naked on the sheepskin.)
Masa kaappaa pakarat                (Masa grabs the buttocks)
hankaa harmaata partaansa Sannan mahlaan, (rubs his grey beard on Sannaâs nectar,)
alkaa panna rakkaansa ahdasta tavaraa (starts to hump his darlingâs tight stuff)
takaa.                               (from behind.)
Sanna ja Masa antavat parastaan,       (Sanna and Masa give it their best,)
jaksavat ratsastaa takajalalla jakkaralla;Â (ride the stool on its backleg;)
jahtaavat palavaa laavaa,               (chase the burning lava,)
salama pamahtaa:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (lightning bangs:)
Sanna ja Masa saavat samalla           (Sanna and Masa get it at the same time)
- mahtavaa!                          (- awesome!)
Jahaa. Arvatkaa vaan: vanha draama. (Oh yes. You guessed it: the old drama.)
Sannan maha alkaa kasvaa,          (Sannaâs belly starts to grow,)
mamma kantaa kakaraa.             (mommy is carrying a brat.)
Ansassa, saatana! karjahtaa Masa.    (Trapped, damnit! roars Masa.)
Maksa rattaat! vastaa Sanna vakavana. (Pay the stroller! replies Sanna in earnest.)
Paskan marjat.                      (Bloody hell.)
Masa raahaa happamana         (Masa sourly drags)
kaljavatsansa kapakkaan          (his bear belly into the pub)
rankkaa kamaa tankkaamaan.     (to fuel hard stuff.)
Palaa, sammaltaa,                (Returns, slurs,)
laattaa, sammahtaa,              (vomits, passes out,)
ankarassa darrassa.              (a severe hangover.)
Sanna nakkaa kalaa pataan, kanaa, makkaraa.   (Sanna tosses fish into the pot, chicken, sausage.)
Halpaa rasvasafkaa, haastaa Masa.    (Cheap fatty grub, says Masa.)
Anna rahaa, parahtaa Sanna.           (Give me money, cries Sanna.)
Passaa varastaa, jatkaa Masa,          (You should steal, continues Masa,)
lakkaa paasaamasta,                 (stop nagging,)
haahka!                             (hag!)
Sannalla tavallaan napsahtaa,         (Sanna kind of snaps)
katala akka halajaa tappaa!           (vile woman wants to kill!)
Hakkaa Masaa saappaalla naamaan,  (Beats Masa in the face with a boot,)
Masa makaa maassa:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (Masa lies on the ground:)
pahassa jamassa,                    (in a bad shape,)
kamala kahakka.                    (terrible scuffle.)
Sannaa kalvaa - Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (Sanna is troubled -)
varmaan parasta pakata kamat;Â Â Â Â Â (probably best to pack the things;)
jatkaa matkaa,                     (keep moving,)
maalata naamansa,                (paint her face,)
karata raskaana taajamasta -Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (flee from the suburbs -)
saasta.                           (filth.)
Sanna ravaa jalan Saksaan         (Sanna runs to Germany on foot)
lasta kasvattamaan.               (to raise the child.)
Satama-altaalla vapaa-ajallaan Masa kalastaa.   (Masa fishes at the docks in his free time.)
Harakat palaavat majakalta,       (Magpies come back from the lighthouse,)
taas sataa                       (itâs raining again.)
ja salva parantaa haavat.         (and salve heals the wounds.)
