winter solstice

December 21, 2011

The winter solstice occurs today, at 11:30 p.m in my region, and the end of the calendar year draws nigh. A time for wonder and reflection.

What is the winter solstice?

• ·         Astronomically, it’s the point in time when the earth’s north pole is tilted farthest from the sun. A nice image in wikipedia shows this.

• ·         Another way to say it is that the winter solstice occurs when the sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn.

• ·         The solstice is usually characterized not as a moment but a day; this year it’s December 22 and is the shortest day of the year.

• ·         And, of course the winter solstice marks the beginning of winter.

Winter is a lovely, cold, bleak time of the year and I love it. The Japanese poet Kobayashi Issa (1763 – 1827) captures it for me in this perfect haiku.

                        Fuyukodachi

                        Mukashi mukashi no

                        Oto su nari

                        In the wintry grove

                            Echoes

                        Of long, long ago.

                   

A somewhat different take on winter is given by the great American poet Ezra Pound. The well-known Middle English lyric “Sumer is icumen in” (also known as the "Cuckoo Song") celebrates the revival of nature with the arrival of summer. Pound made a wonderful parody of it for the arrival of winter.

                 ANCIENT MUSIC

            Winter is icumen in,  
            Lhude sing Goddamm,
            Raineth drop and staineth slop,
            And how the wind doth ramm!
                 Sing: Goddamm.
            Skiddeth bus and sloppeth us,

            An ague hath my ham.

            Freezeth river, turneth liver,
                 Damm you; Sing: Goddamm.
            Goddamm, Goddamm, 'tis why I am, Goddamm,
                 So 'gainst the winter's balm.
            Sing goddamm, damm, sing goddamm,
            Sing goddamm, sing goddamm, DAMM.

In a poem titled “Old Winter” the English poet Thomas Noel (1799 – 1861), defies the doldrums of winter with a warm fire, merriment and Christmas. The first and last verses of his thumping poem:

            Old Winter sad, in snow yclad,

            Is making a doleful din;

            But let him howl till he crack his jowl,

            We will not let him in.

                .    .    .    .    .    .

            Come, lads, let's sing, till the rafters ring;

            Come, push the can about;—

            From our snug fireside this Christmas-tide

            We'll keep old Winter out.

                         

The beginning of winter also signals the approaching end of the year. I like a round of “Auld Lang Syne” about as much as next fellow, I suppose, but my mood is more aptly matched by this verse by the beloved Japanese poet Ryokan (1758 – 1831).

            Another year lingers to an end;

            Heaven sends a bitter frost.

            Fallen leaves cover the mountains

            And there are no travelers to cast shadows on the path.

            Endless night: dried leaves burn slowly in the hearth.

            Occasionally, the sound of freezing rain.

            Dizzy, I try to recall the past –

            Nothing here but dreams.