By
admin, December 20, 2009
The title is a quote of J.Joyce’s “The Dubliners”, one of the masterpieces of this great author, and personally, one of my favourites.
For those who never had the chance to read this masterpiece, here is the extract where I took the quote from. Marvelous.
“A few light taps upon the pane made him turn to the window. It had begun to snow again. He watched sleepily the flakes, silver and dark, falling obliquely against the lamplight. The time had come for him to set out on his journey westward. Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, farther westward, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling, too, upon every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.”
— James Joyce (Dubliners)
The snow, that is what falls upon those who are living and those who are not anymore walking on this land, is the argument of this post. I admit this post is not one full of joy and irony, like the ones you readers are used to find in my blog, but this is the way I feel today, so bear with me.
I chose Joyce’s quote since it’s 2 days that is snowing here in Hanover, where I live. All is white, even if the level of the snow at the ground is not higher than 5cm.
Temperatures are freaking cold, touching a record -20°C during nightly hours. When you go out in the street, the wind feels like a sharp knife that cuts through your throat as you breathe.
Eyes start watering, and the tears turn to icy salty popsicles as soon as the hit your cheeks.
It is incredible that here in Hanover I still see someone riding a bicycle in the streets, let alone with a short-sleeved t-shirt. I did see one the other day, and he was feeling quote comfortable with his summer outfit. Crazy people…
Anyway, snow will keep on falling for another couple of days, making probably this Christmas one of the coldest I’ve been through.
I wish all of you, my dear Readers, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
g.c.
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