Ode to Saint Urho
by Gene McCavic and Richard Mattson
Virginia, Minnesota
Ooksi kooksi coolama vee
Santia Urho is ta poy for me!
He sase out ta hoppers as pig as pirds.
Neffer peefor haff I hurd tose words!
He reely tolt tose pugs of kreen
Braffest Finn I effer seen
Some celebrate for St. Pat unt hiss nakes
Putt Urho poyka kot what it takes.
He kot tall and trong from feelia sour
Unt ate kala moyakka effery hour.
Tat's why tat kuy could sase toes peetles
What krew as thick as chack bine neetles.
So let's give a cheer in hower pest vay
On Sixteenth of March, St. Urho's Tay.
Gene McCavic reads the Ode to St. Urho
The Ode as originally written refers to St. Urho chasing out frogs instead of grasshoppers, and to May 24th as St. Urho's Day.
Audio clip recorded by Leo Keskinen of Cloquet, MN.