Tag: #rdp

I can be human here

In the first scenes of what is arguably the most well-known German play, Faust has contemplated suicide because he has realised his limitations in the light of his ambitions. The ringing of the church bells at the break of dawn and the Christian message of the risen Christ hold him back.

Next morning he leaves the city to join the masses of people on a stroll outside the city gates. The following is an ode to spring and humanity, a piece of poetry colloquially known as the “Easter Walk” and lines from it are known by almost every German. He starts with describing the surroundings, seeing nature freed from the white ice just as the people are freed from the grey city. Nature is still lacking colour this early in spring, so people have to supply it with their finery. The soliloquy ends with Faust’s awareness that he can join the rest of humanity.

Hence, the photo of an Easter Sunday morning stroll.

The Ragtag Daily Prompt: Human

The Big Dangers

Dangerous animals – my association used to be hippos, or lions, or ferocious dogs, or angry bulls.

But small animals can be dangerous, too. The oak processionary moth has become prevalent in many areas in Germany were it was previously unknown, now there are often signs found on trees to warn of them. The signs have become permanent, they don’t bother to take them down in winter anymore.

The Ragtag Daily Prompt: Dangerous

The promise

I had a stroll through the vineyards around here yesterday, and no green yet sprouting there. But the cherry and apple trees are busy putting out buds, even old and gnarly ones.

The Ragtag Daily Prompt: Sprout.

And so it clings

Its suckers will destroy the plasterwork over time. In English I believe this plant is known as grape woodbine. Is there a connection to the cigarette brand “Woodbine”, I wonder? I knew a man called Woodbine once, who was neither clingy nor a (social) climber. So many associations!

The Ragtag Daily Prompt: Cling

Pebbles, not Rocks

Since I already posted about a proper storm or rather the aftermath of one called Lothar this week I am just sharing a view from our window yesterday. Not a real storm but a five minute long hailstorm. Luckily it was short and the pebbles were only small. Nothing to either write home about or keep in the fridge. I remember when a radio show host in Bavaria asked people if they had kept one of the golfball sized hailstones that pelted Munich in 1984, i.e. from 10 years earlier. He had hoped for one or two and the radio station was swamped with people coming by carrying cooler bags. That was before everyone had smartphones, of course. Today, people would just share their pictures online.

The Ragtag Daily Prompt: Storm