(http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/vmi/images/february.jpg)

February was named after the Latin term februum, which means purification. Purification is the act of cleaning by getting rid of impurities. With all the current events including the Inauguration of the 44th President Obama, this nation could use some purifying. We have a fair share of impurities staining our land, most prominetely the ecomomic crisis. The fact that February is the shortest month in the year only promotes action, as the country’s debt only rises as the time passes.

Ah, sweet February. So short, it flies by as by the time one can fully embrace it’s cold yet loving ways, it is gone. Punxsutawney Phil hides from his shadow (or more likely all the flashing cameras!)  signifying six more weeks of winter. Lovers exchange gifts, and the single become even more depressed. Great Presidents Washington and Lincoln are revered, and we leap into March.  Students rejoice nationwide as they enjoy a week long vacation.

Should students be given a week off? Does Obama have a week off? Can he just relax as our situation declines?

Although short, all of February’s (this year, at least) 29 days should be fully taken advantage of. It may be cold, but there is a lot of work to be done.

February Poem By C.M.M.

(http://frankly-chris.blogspot.com/2007/02/february-poem.html)

And in his garden
in the second month
the hard green spikes
forced their narrow way through
the cold earth, as
Nature’s relentless renewal
mocked the many dead.
No spiritual resurrection here, but
undiminished life, visible,
predictable in its season.
But the dead in their
narrow graves bore only
the offerings of remembrance,
rotting in the black blast
from the rain-hid hills,
and faith seemed fainter now
than the sharp blade that
severs, and the distant song of love
was carried in the wind.