Posted Sunday morning, March 3, 2019.
Snow Moon. Quaker Hill Ridge, Dutchess County, New York. 11:40, Monday night, February 18, 2019. Photo by ES.
Something I didn’t know until our longtime blogging comrade and friend informed me by way of this post card: “February’s full moon is also known as the snow moon.” ES took the photo at 11:40 Monday night, February 18, 2019. The picture reminded me of the opening lines of "The Eve of St. Agnes" by John Keats. I appreciated the reminder. I don't read enough Keats anymore. Seems hardly anybody does. We should all fix that. Just by way of virgin martyr trivia, the Feast of St Agnes is January 21, and this year the moon was not only was full on January 21 but, you probably remember, there was a lunar eclipse and, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, it was a “Super Blood Wolf Moon!” I didn’t see either the full moon or the eclipse. It was a cloudy night here. But it was a bitterly chilly St Agnes’ eve. Nine degrees! It was 19 degrees here the night ES took the picture. I don’t know how much colder it was up on the ridge but it was certainly colder. None of this figured in why I liked ES’ picture and asked her to let me post it here. Thanks, ES.
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.
---from “The Eve of St. Agnes” by John Keats.
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Filed under “Post Cards” and “How the Weather Was”.
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