Daily Archives: December 6, 2002

Untranslatable Word of the Day

A few years ago, I bought a wonderful book by Howard Rheingold called They Have a Word For It: A Lighthearted Lexicon of Untranslatable Words and Phrases. This book examines foreign words that describe a concept rather than a single word, for which English has no single-word equivalent. It was quite fascinating to me, as a writer, philosopher and student of culture, to see exactly how Orwell’s statement that “if you don’t have a word for it, it doesn’t exist” is absolutely true.

Anyway, today’s word (which I don’t think is in the book, but the words in days to come will be) is:

Namaste: An ancient Sanskrit word that means “I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells. I honor the place in you, which is of light and peace. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, we are one.”

Namaste to all 🙂

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Song for the Green Man

Now, sit yourself down and relax for a time
And sup as the daylight begins to decline;
The weather is warm and the company’s fine
For the Green Man’s providing the wine

Partake of the bounty that’s laid out this night
For those that are hungry, the fire’s are alight
And all of your worries will be put to flight
For the Green Man is doing it right

So drink of the cider and whiskey and wine,
The scotch and lager brought in while you dine,
And toast to your unending pleasure and mine,
For the Green Man is treating you fine

Ye ladies and gentlemen, give out a cheer
For He that is born again year after year
Bringing the wildness of life ever near
Yes, the Green Man is buying the beer

So dance and be merry, and drink ye your fill
And let not tomorrow give pause to think ill
But trust in the Goddess and live for Her will,
For the Green Man is paying the bill

A toast to this company, to one and all
Your health in this summer, and on until fall
And listen to Nature’s unhesitant call
For the Green Man believes in you all

So, what will you have, for to drink or to eat?
We’ve all nature’s bounty, her fruit and her meat
Brought right to your doorstep, no don’t leave your seat
For the Green Man will serve you complete

So hither ye ladies, and gentlemen too,
And sing out the merriment all the night through
And make ye a friend from a stranger or two
For the Green Man is counting on you

Yes, give him your blessing and energy bright,
Believe in the wonders of love and of light;
There’s much that can happen, and most of it right,
For the Green Man is King here tonight.

01 AUG 2001

With the Yule season rapidly approaching, I thought it might be nice pull out a paean to the original jolly old elf, the host of yuletime present, the Green Man 🙂 I wrote this about a year ago. May your Yule log fire never die.

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