Suomenlinna

By Rita H. Chen

 

 

These connecting islands
Once a majestic fortress town
Now an area trapped in time
Buildings beautiful but in disrepair
Basic amenities without any frills
Tourists wandering in and out
One wonders
For the 900 Finns still living here
Is it choice, necessity, or history that drives the decision?

 

 

Rita’s Musings: A poem inspired by a recent visit to Suomenlinna in Helsinki, Finland. I found Suomenlinna to be very picturesque but also very remote. It could have been the day I visited (which was a Monday), but the emptiness of the town almost made it feel like it had been abandoned. It made me wonder what drives people to live on the islands as it certainly wouldn’t be a “conventional” place to settle down in.