The past few cold winter nights reminded me of the Feast of St. Agnes Eve.
A few years ago when Dad (Grampa) and I were playing chess on-line on St. Agnes Eve I sent the following message to DAD (We use to chat back and forth when we played, I'm pwheeler1 and Dad went by jim128).
Comment: (pwheeler1) ahh bitter chill it was. The owl for all its feathers was a cold
And Dad replied
Comment: (jim128) Pat we were in West Port Country Mayo in Ireland.
Dad was referring to one night in County Mayo when we were reciting the opening lines to the poem The Eve of St Agnes by John Keats.
So I'm a little late since St Agnes Eve was on January 20th, but the last few nights reminded me of this. Mom, check Dad's diary from August of 1984
St Agnes' Eve---Ah, bitter chill it was!
The owl, for all his feathers, was a-cold;
The hare limp'd trembling through the frozen grass,
And silent was the flock in woolly fold:
Numb were the Beadsman's fingers, while he told
His rosary, and while his frosted breath,
Like pious incense from a censer old,
Seem'd taking flight for heaven, without a death,
Past the sweet Virgin's picture, while his prayer he saith.
His prayer he saith, this patient, holy man;
Then takes his lamp, and riseth from his knees,
And back returneth, meagre, barefoot, wan,
Along the chapel aisle by slow degrees:
BTW - Dad had a winning record with his on line chess - 192 wins 148 losses 3 ties. My record with Dad 55 wins 109 losses and 1 tie. I've saved all of our games :)
4 comments:
Such a nice memory of Dad
I checked his diary
it was daily reports of places you stayed and the weather,prices of the rooms.~~~~~money he owed you
"just the facts"
Sunny days mostly
nice memories Pat
"Dad was The beadsman~~~~"
MOM
except for the last part of the poem~~~~~~~i just read it again
What a nice keepsake Pat and what a beautiful post!
I was telling mom that this morning about 3:00ish am (I think?) I woke up and when I opened my eyes from where my head was on the pillow, I could look out and see the moon. It was a bit of a crescent shape and I immediately thought of dad. I started to think of what he would want to say to me and I then thought of my bills, specifically, my life insurance and home insurance and how they are due the beginning of next month. I could hear dad saying, "Next month is just a few days away. Get those paid!" I then started stressing about where the bills were, so first thing this morning when I woke up I located the bills and put them in my pocketbook to mail today. Needless to say, it was a snowy ride home so I didn't make it to the post office, but I know where the bills are, and I will be sure to get them in the mail tomorrow. : )
Dad is in the air...What a blessing : )
This is a keeper
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