Wishing you all a warm and cozy weekend, with at least a few poems that make you smile. It's been snowing again, after sixty degrees early in the week but today, more sun! I hope you've stayed safe and mostly cozy!
The last time I shared my lovely postcards, I lamented about the late or missed mail and all that postal workers have to do, even in a snowstorm! It has improved!
Looking around, I found a sort of poem here, from Mental Floss. It is a history I did not know. No matter what you and others may believe, this is NOT the motto of the USPS, and was written in ancient times.
From the article: While the Postal Service has no official motto, the popular belief that it does is a tribute to America's postal workers. The words, thought to be the motto, are chiseled in gray granite over the entrance to the New York City Post Office on 8th Avenue and come from Book 8, Paragraph 98, of The Persian Wars by Herodotus. During the wars between the Greeks and Persians (500-449 B.C.), the Persians operated a system of mounted postal couriers who served with great fidelity."
Neither snow nor rain
nor heat nor gloom of night
stays these couriers
from the swift completion
of their appointed rounds.
Thanks to those whose beautiful creations have inspired and made me smile. It is lovely of Jone MacCulloch to manage this exchange for those of us who signed up. Thanks, Jone, for all the 'smiles' I find (finally) in my mailbox. Here are pictures from Jone, Robyn, and Carol V. I am grateful to each one of you, delighting in your fabulous creations.
Fun finding that old poem from way back… 500 B.C.E. And they keep on trying today. Yes let's keep our mail coming and applaud their efforts for bringing you and all of us these lovely postcards–thanks for sharing them Linda!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that those lines were that old! How wonderful that they're still read and quoted so widely today.
ReplyDeleteI love it when I can look at a poem (or the presentation of a poem) and pick the creator. What a wonderful group of friends we share. These are lovely, Linda.
ReplyDeleteCool history lesson, Linda! All hail snail mail! :)
ReplyDeleteSuch gifts, these! Thanks for sharing the history of that motto. I didn't know! xo
ReplyDeleteLinda, I had no idea that this motto came from Herodotus! How interesting! Those words have given the USPS an aura that makes people respond strongly when it is threatened.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the lovely postcards and the history of the postal saying. That's a bit of trivia that I'll pull out someday for sure!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun to see your postcards -- and glad to hear the mail delivery service has improved in your area! I didn't know about the USPS motto either, interesting!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I am so delighted that you got my postcard.Mail is slow here also but so is everything lately(due to COVID). I love the bits of history tucked inside your post. As you started talking about New York City, I became a bit nostalgic but I will travel there in August to visit my oncologist for a routine visit-more from gratefulness than anything else.
ReplyDeleteAh, snow again. You are sunny all over this post. Gratitude abounds. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love learning new stuff like this--and although I didn't participate in the postcard exchange, I'm grateful everyone shares them so we all get to enjoy them! <3
ReplyDeleteThank you for the information about the poem we always associate with the US Postal Service. I had not idea it was written so long ago. That post office on 8th Avenue was fortunately landmarked because now it is a train station, but the motto can't be removed. I used to go there to pick up letters to Santa to fulfill.
ReplyDeleteYour postcards are wonderful.
love, love, love! Our poetry community is one of my favorite sources of beauty.
ReplyDeleteHere's to snail mail and to the postcard exchanges!
ReplyDeleteI love the mail, and the words about the mail! That "motto" (that isn't a motto) is even better now, knowing its origin!
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone for visiting. I am still trying to get to everyone's post but am so busy with the bookstore these recent days. I'm glad you liked the history I discovered and it looks like Alex at Randomly Reading knows the most recent part about the building. Thanks, Alex!
ReplyDeleteThank you for some historical clarification, Linda. Most interesting, but not uncommon occurrence, where myth becomes an accepted fact.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alan, it was certainly enlightening to read about it!
DeleteOh, very lovely collection! I was only a little disappointed to find that your post was not, as I misread, "more about the mall." : ) I love knowing the provenance of our tribute to mail carriers!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the laugh, Heidi. I haven't been to my Mall since, not sure when. I wonder what you imagined I would write!
DeleteVery fun to know we have co-opted Herodotus' words! And thank you for sharing the poetry postcards. I recently received one from a new poetry group partner and it's a delight! Enjoy!
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