The Cusp of the Year
Look back: What have we learned from history? (Why do we have to repeat our screw ups?) Look ahead: Follow a path through “the yellow woods.”
In November, my husband and I visited my hometown, Richmond, VA. We went to a book sale at a Lutheran church. A three pound volume followed us back to Asheville, the second edition of The Christian Almanac: A Book of Days Celebrating History’s Most Significant People and Events, edited by George Grant and Gregory Wilbur, and published by Cumberland House, Nashville, TN, in 2004.
When you read the following list of births, deaths, celebrations, and commiserations, ask yourself, “Are we moving ahead here? Have we learned ANYTHING?”
These are not in logical order. I’m a poet, remember, and yes, I CAN write in form. Sestinas are my favorite. It’s numbers that have a problem with me. Hence, the lack of chronology.
January 1 – the day we make resolutions, vows, and consider vision.
Year 404 – The last gladiator match was fought in the Roman Colosseum.
407 – St. John Chrysostem died. He was known as the golden tongued orator.
1915 – Thomas Merton, author and Trappist monk was born in France.
1865 – Robert E. Lee named general in chief of all Confederate Armies.
1933 – Adolf Hitler named chancellor of Germany.
1919 – Theodore Roosevelt died.
1867 – Thomas Wolfe met with editor, Max Perkins to discuss Look Homeward Angel.
1882 – Pooh Day. Author A. A. Milne was born on January 18.
1967 – First Super Bowl. If you don’t remember, the Packers beat the pants off the Kansas City Chiefs.
1756 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on the 27th.
1935 – Elvis was born on the 8th.
1735 – Paul Revere, patriot and master silver smith was born.
1892 – The first immigrants arrived at Ellis Island. More than twelve million immigrants passed through this portal during the sixty-two years of its operation. “We are all immigrants.” ~ Jim Moore
1900 – Pucinni’s Tosca debuted in Rome.
1915 – Congress rejected a referendum to give women the right to vote.
1847 – The U.S. Marines captured Los Angeles from the Mexicans.
1967 – Marian Anderson debuted at the Metropolitan Opera. She was the first black singer to perform at this most prestigious venue.
1540 – King Henry VIII married his fourth wife, a six month ordeal.
1965 – T. S. Eliot died in London.
1924 – A stone sarcophagus was discovered in Luxor Egypt by Howard Carter. It revealed a solid gold coffin and the mummy of the boy pharaoh, King Tut.
1521 – On January 3, Martin Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X. This launched the Protestant reformation.
1870 – Virginia rejoined the Union.
1961 – President John F. Kennedy held the first live presidential news conference on radio. It was beamed coast to coast.
1938 – Hats off to Benny Goodman! When black members of his band were refused entrance to Carnegie hall, he cancelled the gig. The managers of the venue gave in.
1935 – Aviator Amelia Earheart began her trip from Honolulu to California.
1956 – When asked by a Newsweek editor about free verse, Robert Frost snapped, “I’d just as soon play tennis without the net!”
2014 – The word is moving into the future. I heard it from ten-year-old voices at a recent Soulspeak Slam. Oh, if only I’d been aware of my voice at age ten!
Patrick Henry will have the last say: “Books and friends should be few but good.” (1736 – 1799)
Reader, may your year be filled with wonder!
a poem by lucille clifton
i am not done yet
as possible as yeast
as imminent as bread
a collection of safe habits
a collection of cares
less certain than i seem
more certain than i was
a changed changer
where i have been
most of my lives is
where i’m going