Nabucco – my current mood

Fly, thought, on wings of gold,
go settle upon the slopes and the hills
where the sweet airs of our
native soil smell soft and mild!
Greet the banks of the river Jordan
and Zion’s tumbled towers.
Oh, my country, so lovely and lost!
Oh remembrance so dear yet unhappy!

Golden harp of the prophetic wise men,
why hang so silently from the willows?
Rekindle the memories in our hearts,
tell us about the times gone by!
Remembering the fate of Jerusalem
play us a sad lament
or else be inspired by the Lord
to fortify us to endure our suffering!

I think the chorus of the Hebrew slave from the Italian opera, Nabucco, is many people’s favourite. These words are beautiful and leaves me in a sad mood if I think about South Africa and how it’s getting destroyed by Zuma.

Chess pieces from elephant tusk carved in China – Nottingham Castle Museum