Men surprise with spicy love poems at Sodankylä festival

Organizers of the Pieni runofestivaali in Sodankylä asked the public to submit love poems and were surprised by the response, particularly from men, reports Yle.

The call drew over 25 submissions from across Finland and abroad, including one from Spain. Many came from Lapland men, with some exploring themes of passionate, erotic love.

Artistic director Uni Ojuva, a poet and creative writing instructor, said men may have been drawn to the form because poetry allows both revelation and concealment. She noted that love poetry, from maternal devotion to romantic longing, offers a way to process intense emotions through metaphor.

“Love is a universal theme in poetry. The first poem ever written was probably a love poem,” Ojuva said. She added that the best love poems balance beauty with vulnerability and a certain fragility.

The submitted poems will form the Rakkausrunometsä (Love Poem Forest) exhibition, displayed in a riverside grove near Porttikoski guesthouse in Sodankylä’s Askas area during the festival, held July 10–11.

Friday’s program includes a children’s creative writing workshop and jam sessions. Saturday features readings by poets Tomi Kontio, Oona Jama, Minsku Tammela, Uni Ojuva, and Posetiivi Josef, followed by an open mic.