Did you ever wonder, “Where do the month names come from?” Essentially, there are three sources: Greek and Roman deities, Roman rulers, and numbers.
May springs from the Greek goddess Maia, daughter of Atlas and mother of Hermes. She was a nurturer and an earth goddess, which certainly explains her connection with this springtime month, when flowers and crops burst forth.
June descends from Juno, wife of Jupiter, and the Roman ancient goddess of marriage and childbirth.
July was named in honor of Julius Caesar right after his assassination in 44 B.C., with July being the month of his birth. July is the first month in the calendar that bears the name of a real person, rather than a deity.
The University Settlement Adult Literacy Program welcomes our new English Conversation Partner, Alison. She’s going to be calling our students on a regular basis and helping them with their listening and speaking skills. Alison also works at University Settlement’s Houston Street Center. Now let’s hear from Alison herself:
I’m from New York and love living in Astoria, Queens. I’ve worked at University Settlement for 14 years! My favorite thing about my job is meeting the people who come to the Houston Street Center to learn new skills and achieve their goals. When I’m not at work, I enjoy working out, going to concerts & sporting events and spending time with my friends and family. My favorite color is blue and I love Beyonce. I also love the summer time because I love hot weather and going to the beach. I’m very outgoing and social and love meeting new people – so the new role of “Conversation Partner” is really exciting for me. Thank you for practicing your English with me!
The Brooklyn Public Library is additionally offering online Citizenship Classes. If you’re interested in those, please call 718-230-2007 or send an email to immigrantservices@bklynlibrary.org.
A haiku has three lines with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables in the third line. It also usually includes words that are connected to Nature and philosophy and has some sort of small surprise.
Since the original frog haiku is in Japanese, there are many ways to translate it. Here are 30 below:
The original Japanese:
古池 蛙飛び込む 水の音
Furu ike ya kawazu tobikomu mizu no oto
An old pond — The sound Of a diving frog.
Translated by Kenneth Rexroth
Pond, there, still and old! A frog has jumped from the shore. The splash can be heard.
Translated by Eli Siegel
old pond frog leaping splash
Translated by Cid Corman
The old pond, A frog jumps in: Plop!
Translated by Alan Watts
Breaking the silence Of an ancient pond, A frog jumped into water — A deep resonance.
Translated by Nobuyuki Yuasa
The old pond A frog jumped in, Kerplunk!
Translated by Allen Ginsberg
Listen! a frog Jumping into the stillness Of an ancient pond!
Translated by Dorothy Britton
Old pond leap — splash a frog.
Translated by Lucien Stryk
The old pond — a frog jumps in, sound of water.
Translated by Robert Hass
At the ancient pond a frog plunges into the sound of water
Translated by Sam Hamill
ancient is the pond — suddenly a frog leaps — now! the water echoes
