COLD MOON

Oh month of the "cold moon"
being born of Roman times
your creator Numa Pompilius
crafted you after Janus
god of doors and gates
while a much later statesman,
Julius Caesar gave you one more day
thus was January born, amended,
designated the first month of the year.

Gems of garnets known for your hardness
as well as your many shades of color
with ruby red preferred by some,
carried by ancient travelers
averting distant harm from home
with snowdrop or carnation
your companion flower of the month and
Capricorn your designated Zodiac,
you, thus born are said to be
intelligent, industrious, pragmatic, practical
yet there lingers that underlying
layer of sensitivity, passion, mystery.

Janus of January
how will we remember your name
what will the Year have in store for us
are great gains to be made
by throwing out the old and bringing in the new
perhaps we ought to reflect,
strengthen the Year, combine the two
for is it not said
two heads are better than one
we ought to let the worst of the year go
but keep the best.

 

Herbert Holzbauer
© January 2002

Midi: Solace
Composer: Scott Joplin
Sequencer: Marvin Hamlisch

Photo: Garnet (Michael L. Davidson)
http://microscopy.fsu.edu