Merry Christmas
Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 7:10 pm
I just wanted to spread a little holiday cheer.
An opinionated discussion of all things SFDebris
https://sfdebris.net/forum/
Happy Yuletide to you as well.Fuzzy Necromancer wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2023 3:29 pm Happy Hogswatch, and Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. You know what Christmas is a traditional time for? That's right, GHOST STORIES!
So as a present to y'all, here is an audiobook/podcast rendition of M. R. James's Ghost Stories of An Antiquary, read by Peter Yearsley, who was born to read ghost stories with his gorgeously sinister voice.
https://librivox.app/book/383
Der Leiermann
Drüben hinterm Dorfe steht ein Leiermann,
Und mit starren Fingern dreht er was er kann.
Barfuß auf dem Eise schwankt er hin und her
Und sein kleiner Teller bleibt ihm immer leer.
Keiner mag ihn hören, keiner sieht ihn an;
Und die Hunde brummen um den alten Mann.
Und er läßt es gehen , alles wie es will,
Dreht, und seine Leier steht ihm nimmer still.
Wunderlicher Alter, soll ich mit dir gehn?
Willst zu meinen Liedern deine Leier drehn?
The last poem in Franz Schubert's "Winter Travels"-cycle from 1827. The poem itself was written by Wilhelm Müller in 1821/22, with Schubert composing the music. It was Schubert's last work, who was already battling with death at that point and he sang his work to his friends, inviting them in to listen with the words: "I'd like to sing a cycle of eerie songs to you". He died less than one year later, aged 31.The Organ Grinder
Over beyond the village an organ grinder stands,
And with rigid fingers grinding as he can.
Barefoot on the ice careening forth and back
And his small plate remaining ever empty.
Noone wants to hear him, noone wants to see him;
And the dogs growling around the old man.
And he lets it go, all as it wants,
Grinding, his organ never standing still.
Queer old man, shall I go with you?
To my songs, willst thou grind your organ?
Sitting with the family, exchanging gifts we promised we wouldn't make to each other (like every year), eating Wiener sausages with potato salad and building Lego-sets with my (by the end of next week) 5 years old nephew, who enjoys using me as a horse today. *neighs*Fuzzy Necromancer wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2023 12:05 am Thank you for sharing
So how are y'all celebrating, if at all? I'm watching Hogfather and Balto (with Balto in between the two parts) with my partner, as well as opening the presents I got from them and the ones my aunt sent in the mail. Drinking eggnog and pear brandy I picked up at the Rennaisance Faire. Had a quorn roast for lunch and am looking forward to a tofurky vegan ham with amber ale beer glaze. Also we listened to Blackmore Night's two-disc Christmas Albumn.