Today, 1st December. Since Christmas isn’t that far away anymore I wanted to post something special. In Christmas time stories, songs and poems get very important and enjoyable so I don’t want to keep the following poem back from you. I translated the German poem to English so that everyone can understand it. It is translated literally so don’t be puzzled if something sounds funny to you.

I took an old Swiss poem by Gottfried Keller who is one of the greatest and famous writers of his time. The words speak for themselves:

“Winternacht” von Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890)

Nicht ein Flügelschlag ging durch die Welt,
still und blendend lag der weisse Schnee.
Nicht ein Wölklein hing am Sternenzelt,
keine Welle schlug im starren See.

Aus der Tiefe stieg der Seebaum auf,
bis sein Wipfel in dem Eis gefror;
an den Ästen klomm die Nix herauf,
schaute durch das grüne Eis empor.

Auf dem dünnen Glase stand ich da,
das die schwarze Tiefe von mir schied;
dicht ich unter meinen Füssen sah
ihre weisse Schönheit Glied um Glied.

Mit ersticktem Jammer taset’ sie
an der harten Decke her und hin,
ich vergess’ das dunkle Antlitz nie,
immer, immer liegt es mir im Sinn!

“Winter night” by Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890)

Not a flap went through the world,
silent and blinding lay the white snow.
Not one little cloud clung to the star tent,
no wave beat in the stiff lake.

From depth arose the lake tree,
until its treetop froze in the ice;
at the branches climbed up a mermaid,
looked up through the green ice.

I stood on the thin glass,
that the black deepness separated from me;
close under my feet saw
her white beauty limb by limb.

She fumbles with choked misery
at the firm ceiling to and fro,
I never forget the dark visage,
It will always, always stay in my mind.

World’s AIDS Day is Friday, December 1 — a day commemorating the millions of lives lost to this deadly disease, reminding us of the millions suffering from HIV or AIDS, and the millions still at risk. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 3.1 million (between 2.8 and 3.6 million) lives in 2005 of which, more than half a million (570,000) were children.

Let these numbers sink in. They are huge. As YouthAIDS (youthaids.org) National Yoga Ambassador, Seane Corn points out, “There is no vaccine and there is no cure and the life-extending drugs that are available to us in this country are far out of reach for most of the 40 million people who currently live with HIV.” She also points out some other harsh stats:

• Two young people become infected with HIV every hour in the U.S.
• 50% of all new infections occur in young people between the ages of 15-24. Most of them don’t know they carry the virus.
• 15 million children have been orphaned by AIDS — that is the equivalent to every American child under the age of 5.
• AIDS kills one child every minute.

What can you do? You can take action that shows you care:

• Wear a red ribbon
• Talk to people
• Go to an event
• Get involved

For further information about how to learn more and/or get involved go to youthaids.org or omhrc.gov/hivaidsobservances. You can make a difference.