Friday, December 31, 2010

Should auld acquaintance be forgot...


Auld Lang Syne (The Good Old Days) is a song traditionally sung at midnight when horns are blown, confetti is thrown, and a general party atmosphere is created to ring in the New Year with happiness and hope for a bright and prosperous year.

The outgoing year is often represented by an elderly man known as Father Time and the new year is represented by a baby known as Baby New Year.

Robert Burns wrote the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne in the 1700's.



Auld Lang Syne
Robert Burns

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
We twa hae run aboot the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine;
we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin' auld lang syne
We two hae paidled i' the burn,
Frae mornin' sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne
And here's a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

...and to this day, I can't help myself but cry every time that song is played - I've cried to this song since I was a kid in Germany - there's just something about the lyrics - and I guess I'll continue this old habit! (someone hand me a tissue, please!)


Happy New Year!

Prosit Neujahr!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Winter


The Winter's Spring by John Clare

The winter comes; I walk alone,
I want no bird to sing;
To those who keep their hearts their own
The winter is the spring.
No flowers to please—no bees to hum—
The coming spring's already come.


I never want the Christmas rose

To come before its time;
The seasons, each as God bestows,
Are simple and sublime.
I love to see the snowstorm hing;
'Tis but the winter garb of spring.



I never want the grass to bloom:

The snowstorm's best in white.
I love to see the tempest come
And love its piercing light.
The dazzled eyes that love to cling
O'er snow-white meadows sees the spring.



I love the snow, the crumpling snow

That hangs on everything,
It covers everything below
Like white dove's brooding wing,
A landscape to the aching sight,
A vast expanse of dazzling light.



It is the foliage of the woods

That winters bring—the dress,
White Easter of the year in bud,
That makes the winter Spring.
The frost and snow his posies bring,

Nature's white spurts of the spring. 



Monday, December 20, 2010

Friendship poem

Birgit of Mausie's Craft Journey reminded me of a poesy I had forgotten about and I want to share it with you. It was a poem often written in Friendship Journals (or Poesies.)


Zwei Taeubchen, die sich kuessen, 
und nichts von Falschheit wissen,
so edel und so rein, 
soll unsere Freundschaft sein

translated:


Two little kissing doves
know nothing of betrayal
so noble and so pure
 shall our Friendship be



Thursday, December 16, 2010

What is a Poesy Book?



po·e·sy

  
–noun,plural-sies.
1.
the work or the art of poetic composition.
2.
Archaic.
a.
poetry in general.
b.
verse or poetry in metrical form.
3.
Obsolete.
a.
a poem or verse used as a motto. Compare posy (def. 2).
b.
a poem.


po·sy

  
–noun,plural-sies.
1.
a flower, nosegay, or bouquet.
2.
Archaica brief motto or the like, as one inscribed within a ring.



When I was a young child growing up in Germany, all us girls had a Erinnerungs Album (I think that's what it was called) or Remembrance Journal. I call it a Poesy Book or a Memory Journal. I forgot the actual name of it, but my German blogging friends probably know what I'm talking about. It was a square journal with a nice, thick, cushy cover (some with locks) and good quality (heavy stock) white (blank) paper pages for drawing and writing poetry, rymes or mottos dedicated to the owner of the journal. The idea was to write an expression, idea or motto, usually in the form of a poem or rhyme, that represents the relationship of the two people (writer and writee) or some sort of morsel of wisdom for life's journeys. Each person is alloted one or two pages, but if two pages were used, they had to be facing each other and most of the space would be occupied by drawings and stickers. Each entry is always embellished with drawings or stickers - lots and lots of stickers! Especially for the girls, the more the better! Stickers were usually of the Victorian era, generally flowers, children, kitties or bouquets (posies) of flowers, especially violets, roses, forget-me-nots,  pansies and lily of the valley. I recall wanting to write into my friends journals, specifically for using my stickers. Buying stickers was a big deal and a popular after school activity - that, and buying candy.
The goal was to have as many people as possible write in our Poesy Books, not only to proof how popular we were, but moreover to commemorate ones relationships for future years. The idea was to re-read the entries  and feel some sort of connection with that person - and be transported back to the time of our youth. I wonder how many of my school friends still have their Posy Journals. Boys did not have them, but it was acceptable to ask one or two special (boy) friends to write into our journals. Adult males, such as teachers and relatives were always asked to write in our books. It was permitted to keep the book for a few days (up to a week if you're a busy adult person) to allow time for some meaningful and poignant entry and then return it to the owner who was anxiously awaiting its return; however, it was a disappointment to receive a two-liner after having the journal gone for a week. The entries were expected to be some significant message in the form of a poem or a philosophical saying that expressed the writer's sentiments in a unique and personal way.
(...and there had better be stickers!)

I had long entries and short ones in my book. They were anything from "roses are red, violets are blue..." like my mother wrote, to more elaborate, eloquently stated entries that I can't even  recall since sadly, I lost track of  my "Poesy" decades ago. I never did forget my uncle Franz' entry that simply stated: "Mit dem Hut in der Hand kommt man durch das ganze Land." (with your hat in your hand, one can get through all the land) ....meaning that being polite opens doors to possibilities. Short, sweet and to the point! (and a drawing of a guy tipping his hat, to boot!)

Seeing that our world has changed so much since I was eight years old, and many people live far away from one another, shipping a book back and forth may not be a feasible way to getting this new "old" custom (dare I say meme) off the ground; therefore, I will attempt to make this blog my Poesy Journal and from time to time grant access to some willing participants in order for them to write something in my journal - for me.

Again, the person who writes in a Poesy Book should always address something pertaining to the owner of the book and the better the two people know one another, the more effective the entry should be. For example, if you have shared something together, try to find a poem or saying that represents that certain situation as a means of commemorating your relationship. If you know the person briefly, consider their age, situation, hobbies, etc. to make an entry as appropriately and poetic as possible, or write a motto or philosophy (or famous quote) by which to live by to encourage the reader or offer guidance for a life well lived.

Here is an example of  Poesy Journal from a fellow blogger in Europe. Take a look:

The Beauty of 'Me"

I will share an example in my next post, since I am dying to use my stickers LOL - the ones I "stole" from Google Image search! I will try to post my future entries in the form of poetry, quotes, or philosophies embellished with artwork to make the presentation (posts) as attractive and posy-like as possible.

For the most part, I will explore poetry, nursery rhymes, fairy tales, fables, and present the occasional anecdote from my childhood in Germany.  Along with a little philosophizing, I basically want to use this blog for day dreaming and pondering - for finding my muse, if you will!