March Wordplay

I know, I know, it isn’t March yet … but, honestly, we’re nearly there! 2021, however hideous with its Covid revival, is flying. My “March” train of thought was stimulated by the sudden appearance, out of nowhere, of our March lilies. These gorgeous Amaryllis belladonnas are so called because that’s when they push through the open fynbos in South Africa’s Western Cape. Sometimes, though, they make an earlier appearance, like right now in February. When they do emerge, it’s a sign that our summer is coming to an end.

These gorgeous March lilies just popped up out of nowhere at our friends’ beach cottage on Noetzie Beach.

Thinking about March, the phrase “Beware the Ides of March” popped into my head. On the Roman calendar, each month had what was called an “ides”, which fell either on the 13^th or the 15^th. The word derives from the Latin term videre, meaning to ‘separate’. Originally the ides marked the full moon. But lunar months were of a different length to the human-devised calendar months so they quickly got out of step. During the Roman era the ides in March fell on the 15^th. It usually meant a time to settle your debts.

Lower angles of the sun hinting at the end of summer. A web of footprints left after the beachcombers have gone at Noetzie Beach, Knysna, Garden Route.

It was William Shakespeare who made the phrase “Beware the Ides of March” famous, in his play Julius Caesar. Caesar was warned of the date by a seer, but he took no notice, and on the ides, March 15, he was assassinated on the steps of the Senate. (In real history and in the play.)

It just so happens too that in 2021, the 20^th of March is the Spring Equinox for the Northern Hemisphere and the Autumn Equinox for us, in the Southern Hemisphere.

Golden colours of autumn drawing near … A photographer has taken a picture of a photographer taking a picture of a photographer taking a picture. Thank you Bradley Schouten for your inspired photo. This is at the Fountain Shack, Robberg Peninsula, Plettenberg Bay.

And all of this was simply started by the appearance of March lilies!