Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night in the Northern
Hemisphere.
Poets over the ages have proffered plenty of advice for the
coming months. Poet Pietro Aretino, born in the 15th century, said, "Let
us love winter, for it is the spring of genius." William Blake wrote,
"In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy." There's a
Japanese proverb that says, "One kind word can warm three winter
months."
Emily Dickinson wrote, "There's a certain Slant of light,
Winter Afternoons — That oppresses, like the Heft Of Cathedral Tunes."
Al says: I'm not minding winter as much as sometimes in the past, though technically it just begins today. Several trips to The Little House, and what passes for hunting, have helped. Taking the Norwegian proverb, "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing" to heart I've dressed for cold both indoors and out. Daytime highs in Bangkok run in the mid-nineties and I'll be ready for that next month. Living in a 15th floor condo connected to nine miles of skyway is a boon, though I'd use it more if I was dog less. For whatever reason I'm whining less to myself about the cold.
Emily Dickinson's quote "There's a certain Slant of light, Winter Afternoons — That oppresses, like the Heft Of Cathedral Tunes." intrigues me. Certainly the "...Slant of light, Winter Afternoons..." is familiar to me and one of my childhood memories of life on the farm. But do "cathedral tunes" oppress? Is there an older usage of 'oppress' that is lost to me?
Christmas mail redux: Since writing on last night's blog that I'm enjoying Christmas mail especially much this year I've been thinking about, why? It is certainly true that the greetings; cards, letters and pictures are especially welcomed. Perhaps at least two factors are in play. The first is age maturity bringing the recognition of the profound value of relationships. The second in like onto the first. Life with the presence of absence in the land of grief is a powerful reminder not to take family and friends for granted.
Takk for alt,
Al
Al says: I'm not minding winter as much as sometimes in the past, though technically it just begins today. Several trips to The Little House, and what passes for hunting, have helped. Taking the Norwegian proverb, "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing" to heart I've dressed for cold both indoors and out. Daytime highs in Bangkok run in the mid-nineties and I'll be ready for that next month. Living in a 15th floor condo connected to nine miles of skyway is a boon, though I'd use it more if I was dog less. For whatever reason I'm whining less to myself about the cold.
Emily Dickinson's quote "There's a certain Slant of light, Winter Afternoons — That oppresses, like the Heft Of Cathedral Tunes." intrigues me. Certainly the "...Slant of light, Winter Afternoons..." is familiar to me and one of my childhood memories of life on the farm. But do "cathedral tunes" oppress? Is there an older usage of 'oppress' that is lost to me?
Christmas mail redux: Since writing on last night's blog that I'm enjoying Christmas mail especially much this year I've been thinking about, why? It is certainly true that the greetings; cards, letters and pictures are especially welcomed. Perhaps at least two factors are in play. The first is age maturity bringing the recognition of the profound value of relationships. The second in like onto the first. Life with the presence of absence in the land of grief is a powerful reminder not to take family and friends for granted.
Takk for alt,
Al
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