iPad Mini Photo of the Hudson taken from the New Jersey Shore on February 28, 2015
Yesterday the New York Time’s third editorial bemoaned this winter’s onslaught with the heading “This Winter Has Gotten Old.” How old, indeed!
Consider that the Greek Lyric Poet Alcaeus, who flourished in the late 7th – early 6th Century BC, wrote a descriptive poem which I transliterated with the title “Wine in Winter” and which I’ve given below for you to savor. Of course, we nowadays have different ways of combating our winters, but the Hudson River has still frozen over to remind us that Nature is still calling the shots.
Upon us Zeus rains,
And out the wintry heaven
A mighty storm descends,
And rivulets are frozen…….
Combat the winter, lay
the log upon the ingle,
And (don’t be niggardly!)
The honeysweet wine commingle,
Placing about your brow
A soft and fleecy pillow.
Copyright © Azim Lewis Mayadas 2015