woolybanana Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Firstly, it is the shortest day which means that we can now begin the climb back to the light; therefore it is the beginning of the Yule Festivities, so, a Happy Yule to you all.Secondly, it is the Journee Internationale de l'Orgasme. Perhaps it is not a coincidence that this is dated on the shortest day or the longest night. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, how do you intend to celebrate this glorious event, extra cuppa tea, early night with cocoa or discussion of Brexit or mad wild celebration of you know what? Do let us know, or at least, please tell Norman! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 A NOCTURNAL UPON ST. LUCY'S DAY,BEING THE SHORTEST DAY.by John Donne 'TIS the year's midnight, and itis the day's,Lucy's, who scarce seven hours herself unmasks ; The sun is spent, and now his flasks Send forth light squibs, no constant rays ; The world's whole sap is sunk;The general balm th' hydroptic earth hath drunk,Whither, as to the bed's-feet, life is shrunk,Dead and interr'd ; yet all these seem to laugh,Compared with me, who am their epitaph. Study me then, you who shall lovers beAt the next world, that is, at the next spring ; For I am every dead thing, In whom Love wrought new alchemy. For his art did expressA quintessence even from nothingness,From dull privations, and lean emptiness ;He ruin'd me, and I am re-begotOf absence, darkness, death—things which are not. All others, from all things, draw all that's good,Life, soul, form, spirit, whence they being have ; I, by Love's limbec, am the grave Of all, that's nothing. Oft a flood Have we two wept, and soDrown'd the whole world, us two ; oft did we grow,To be two chaoses, when we did showCare to aught else ; and often absencesWithdrew our souls, and made us carcasses. But I am by her death—which word wrongs her—Of the first nothing the elixir grown ; Were I a man, that I were one I needs must know ; I should prefer, If I were any beast,Some ends, some means ; yea plants, yea stones detest,And love ; all, all some properties invest.If I an ordinary nothing were,As shadow, a light, and body must be here. But I am none ; nor will my sun renew.You lovers, for whose sake the lesser sun At this time to the Goat is run To fetch new lust, and give it you, Enjoy your summer all,Since she enjoys her long night's festival.Let me prepare towards her, and let me callThis hour her vigil, and her eve, since thisBoth the year's and the day's deep midnight is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted December 22, 2016 Author Share Posted December 22, 2016 Nice one, Norman, thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindal1000 Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 Thanks Norman. I don't think I've read that poem since A level English. I'd forgotten how good it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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