A couple of hours ago, I watched the reception at the White House for Pope Benedict XVI. There was more than a touch of Americana, with a Revolutionary fife and drum corps on parade. Kathleen Battle was in good voice, singing to the accompaniment of harp. The brilliant brass fanfare made me think how little we hear this music today and what a shame that is. Growing up, there were loads of band concerts in the parks. Does that still happen? There were short welcoming speeches offered, first by President Bush (I wasn't quite prepared to hear him try his tongue at Latin: Pax tecum!) and then, by the Holy Father. After a rousing Battle Hymn of the Republic and Happy Birthday, (the Pope turned 81 today), they adjourned to the Oval Office. At that point, I went back to reading Ovid's tale of a cyclops in love while I waited:

Unum est in media lumen mihi fronte,
sed instar ingentis clipei. quid?
non haec omnia magnus Sol videt e caelo?
Soli tamen unicus orbis.

My forehead with a single eye is fill'd,
Round, as a ball, and ample, as a shield.
The glorious lamp of Heav'n, the radiant sun,
Is Nature's eye; and she's content with one.

(Metamorphoses, Book XIII)

Why do I have the feeling that, despite years of literary Arabic, I still feel more at home with Latin? Later, I got a chance to see what I had been waiting for: the Pope-mobile in action. If they painted it kelly green, it would sort of look like a John Deere tractor.


The Mercedes model has been retired, but the new one
which rolled down Pennsylvannia Ave looks more or less the same.


A thing of beauty!

Tags: benedict, george, kathleen, ovid, popemobile
Current Mood: enthralled
Current Music: Chris Tomlin, Undescribable