Scenes from Martha's Vineyard, January 2022
Lucy Vincent Beach.
Lucy Vincent Beach.
Ice marks the high tide line.
Ice marks the high tide line.
Dusting of snow on Camp Ground porch.
Dusting of snow on Camp Ground porch.
When temperatures plummet, hardy souls strap on the ice skates.
When temperatures plummet, hardy souls strap on the ice skates.
Purple sandpipers.
Purple sandpipers.
Counting the days until spring.
Counting the days until spring.
Sunset over Menemsha.
Sunset over Menemsha.
Black Dog wharf in winter.
Black Dog wharf in winter.
Sengie shoreline frozen over.
Sengie shoreline frozen over.
Sun attempts to break through clouds at Katama.
Sun attempts to break through clouds at Katama.
View of Chilmark's south shore from above.
View of Chilmark's south shore from above.
Fog has descended on the Vineyard this January.
Fog has descended on the Vineyard this January.
Toad Rock in Aquinnah. According to Wampanoag folklore, the toad was a companion of the giant Moshup, and turned into stone when that deity left the Island.
Toad Rock in Aquinnah. According to Wampanoag folklore, the toad was a companion of the giant Moshup, and turned into stone when that deity left the Island.
Snow flurries down at South Beach. Lots of build up, but little accumulation.
Snow flurries down at South Beach. Lots of build up, but little accumulation.
Little library lending box on Tashmoo landing offers opportunities to escape winter through reading.
Little library lending box on Tashmoo landing offers opportunities to escape winter through reading.
Peregrine falcon observes the comings and goings from his downtown Edgartown perch.
Peregrine falcon observes the comings and goings from his downtown Edgartown perch.
Menemsha window looks out on working fishing village.
Menemsha window looks out on working fishing village.
Swan paddles in the calm at the Head of the Lagoon.
Swan paddles in the calm at the Head of the Lagoon.
A winter walk on South Beach to greet the new year.
A winter walk on South Beach to greet the new year.
Little snow remains at Edgartown Great Pond.
Little snow remains at Edgartown Great Pond.
It is these concerns of the day that turn us to poets and philosophers to define the importance of the coming of any new year: Housman reflected on the "beauty of the death-struck year." Emerson told us the "years teach what the days never know." In the 19th century Charles Lamb wrote: "No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference." And Tennyson took special note of the new year when he was poet laureate of England in 1850: "Ring out the old, ring in the new; Ring, happy bells, across the snow; The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true."