An interesting look back at the mind-set of my 20-year-old self, no doubt inspired by a then-current boyfriend.
It's a take-off of Christopher Marlow’s 1599 poem “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” and the 1600 parody by Sir Walter Raleigh “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd”.
Who thinks in this way anymore?!
Come live with me and be my love
And we may some fine pleasure prove,
Of laughter, joy and of sorrow,
Enjoy today, ignore the morrow.
The sun shan’t be but bright and clear,
Starry-eyed as night draws near
We will love and never fear.
No eternal ring my hand shall wear.
Should time our fragile bonds undo
And we each our separate ways pursue,
Let no tears be spent in memory of
Days you lived with and were my love.
June Pearson
1974
A nostalgic longing for the idyllic days of growing up on a lake in New Jersey, written while living on the tropical island of Oahu, Hawaii.
It's based on the repeating rhyme of the French poet Francois Villon's famous refrain "Mais ou sont les neiges d'antan?" Where are the snows of yesteryear?"
Sweet memories of golden-red trees
And leaves that rustle together.
Frost on the lawn as it sleeps in the dawn,
Are these days gone forever?
Fall nips the air with the smell of mohair,
Apple cider, pumpkin, and leather.
The harvest moon shines as the country road winds,
Are these days gone forever?
Snowflakes that fall on the pine trees so tall
And land on the lake like a feather,
Filling the sky with a feast for the eyes,
Are these days gone forever?
On chill winter nights by the flickering light
Of the crackling fire we gather,
Together, alone, in the warmth of our home,
Are these days gone forever?
Christmas draws near and the house fills with cheer,
Swedish meatballs, and Spritz by the platter,
Playing games until dawn till the last of us yawns,
Are these days gone forever?
Soon, daffodils bloom in the gloom
Of a wet afternoon in bad weather,
But we’re having tea, as dry as can be,
Are these days gone forever?
The first sunny day in the beginning of May,
Every face is alive with spring fever.
The young all convene at the town Dairy Queen,
Are these days gone forever?
The summer arrives and the lake comes alive
With boats and skiers so clever.
Dining outside with the cats by our side,
Are these days gone forever?
Surrounded by ferns as the ceiling fan turns
In the gazebo built by my father,
We sip our iced tea or an orange daiquiri,
Are these days gone forever?
Allow me the time to create a new rhyme,
And this poem about home will go on
Forever.
June Sweetser
Hawaii, 1983