Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky

Blow, blow, thou winter wind, Thou are not so unkind As man's ingratitude;

Thy tooth is not so keen, Because thou are not seen, Although thy breath be rude.

Hey-ho! sing, hey-ho! unto the green holly,

Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly;

Then hey-ho, the holly, This life is most jolly.

 

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky That dost not bite so nigh As benefits forgot.

Though thou the waters warp, Thy sting is not so sharp As friend remembered not.

Hey-ho, sing hey-ho, unto the green holly,

Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly;

Then hey-ho, the holly, This life is most jolly.

                             *

Shakespeare, As You Like It, II.7.

(The middle picture is a disc of ice from the dogs' rainwater bowl!)

Comments

[Karen]

Beautiful poetry, though sad. And very beautiful photography! Perfect together!

[Darlene]

Even in midlife, I can't resist tapping my toe on the icey crust of puddles come the first cold snap. I love your photography.

[Linda said]

This poem was resited in the 1938 film "Of Human Hearts" with James Stewart and Walter Huston. A wonderful film of a mothers' love and devotion. The prayer at the end of the film is prayer to live by.