Day 953: Herr Nikolaus

Laetitia is fond of visiting Munich in December with its Christmas market crowds, glühwein, and Herr Nikolaus.

Weinachtsmarkt in the cold frosty air
Clad in red robes and miter he’s there
As he welcomes and greets
All the children he meets
Nikolaus, Munich’s famed Christmas Herr.

Day 952: Mozart Misbehaves

Though many view classical music and its composers as denizens of a stodgy world lacking in humor, appearances can be deceiving.  It is obvious that Mozart not only enjoyed social gatherings, but with his talent and risqué sense of humor, may have been the life of the party.  He wrote Canon in B flat as a party song and for lyrics chose a common bawdy phrase that is the German equivalent of “Go to Hell.”

When the party dulled and laughs were sparse
Young Mozart entertained with a farce,
A round he begat,
Canon in B flat
That begins with words “Leck mich im arsch.”

Day 951: Grave Concern

A gravestone picture posted on Facebook inspired Laetitia to write this post.

A passerby paused just to gawk
At a tombstone’s large letters in block
And wondered in jest
Just where was the rest
For the name on the stone was “HISCOCK.”

Day 950: Marble Arch

Laetitia is a great admirer of the work of Leonard Cohen and decided to write another tribute for him.  Cohen first published Hallelujah in 1984.  The song attracted little attention for 15 years, but since then, more than 60 singers and musical groups have recorded it.

Baby I’ve been here before,
I know this room I’ve walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you
I’ve seen your flag on the Marble Arch
Love is not a victory march
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah.

Leonard Cohen Hallelujah


He’s David and Sampson combined
She’s Bathsheba, Delilah entwined
They were in a love trance
That soared from first glance
Then to vinegar soured like wine.

Hallelujah’s love burned like a torch
And the lovers’ souls it did soon scorch
‘Til like victories of old
It died and turned cold
As the stones in Hyde Park’s Marble Arch.