One of the English texts studied by high school students of my generation was The Pearl by John Steinbeck. A recent discussion about it with my wife, Adey Grummet, showed me how differing aspects of literature appeal to different readers. What I recall was the stark portrayal of corruption and greed and its capacity to impoverish the moral as well as political life of a community. Adey remembers the bleakness of suffering of a people with no hope - coupled with a vivid description of the aquamarine world while diving.
It so happens that we recently celebrated 30 years of marriage, the pearl anniversary. In the lead up to this I, like many men, considered a themed gift was appropriate, and so I bought some pearl earrings for Adey. In my canvassing of the market, I realised there was a gap in my knowledge, specifically about the range of colour in the stones.
I opted for a grey, which has a blue tinge. There was a reason for this. Despite an arguably predictable male reticence to sentimentalism, I have always loved a somewhat slushy poem by A.B. (Banjo) Paterson, the Australian writer, perhaps best known for Waltzing Matilda. (I should mention that both Adey and I have blue eyes.)
AS LONG AS YOUR EYES ARE BLUE
Will you love me, sweet, when my hair is grey
And my cheeks shall have lost their hue?
When the charms of youth shall have passed away,
Will your love as of old prove true?
For the looks may change, and the heart may range,
And the love be no longer fond;
Will you love with truth in the years of youth
And away to the years beyond?
Oh, I love you, sweet, for your locks of brown
And the blush on your cheek that lies --
But I love you most for the kindly heart
That I see in your sweet blue eyes.
For the eyes are signs of the soul within,
Of the heart that is leal and true,
And mine own sweetheart, I shall love you still,
Just as long as your eyes are blue.
For the locks may bleach, and the cheeks of peach
May be reft of their golden hue;
But mine own sweetheart, I shall love you still,
Just as long as your eyes are blue.
To mark our marital milestone Adey and I had commissioned the composer Christopher Maxim to write a piece in response to the poem. (Chris happens to be the Director of Music at the church I serve.) He came up with a fabulous piece for piano, which was performed by Jonathan Williams at a private function.
Jonathan recorded it at Porcupine Studios under the production eye of Nick Taylor. We think it is beautiful. I offer it to you here.
It so happens that we recently celebrated 30 years of marriage, the pearl anniversary. In the lead up to this I, like many men, considered a themed gift was appropriate, and so I bought some pearl earrings for Adey. In my canvassing of the market, I realised there was a gap in my knowledge, specifically about the range of colour in the stones.
I opted for a grey, which has a blue tinge. There was a reason for this. Despite an arguably predictable male reticence to sentimentalism, I have always loved a somewhat slushy poem by A.B. (Banjo) Paterson, the Australian writer, perhaps best known for Waltzing Matilda. (I should mention that both Adey and I have blue eyes.)
AS LONG AS YOUR EYES ARE BLUE
Will you love me, sweet, when my hair is grey
And my cheeks shall have lost their hue?
When the charms of youth shall have passed away,
Will your love as of old prove true?
For the looks may change, and the heart may range,
And the love be no longer fond;
Will you love with truth in the years of youth
And away to the years beyond?
Oh, I love you, sweet, for your locks of brown
And the blush on your cheek that lies --
But I love you most for the kindly heart
That I see in your sweet blue eyes.
For the eyes are signs of the soul within,
Of the heart that is leal and true,
And mine own sweetheart, I shall love you still,
Just as long as your eyes are blue.
For the locks may bleach, and the cheeks of peach
May be reft of their golden hue;
But mine own sweetheart, I shall love you still,
Just as long as your eyes are blue.
To mark our marital milestone Adey and I had commissioned the composer Christopher Maxim to write a piece in response to the poem. (Chris happens to be the Director of Music at the church I serve.) He came up with a fabulous piece for piano, which was performed by Jonathan Williams at a private function.
Jonathan recorded it at Porcupine Studios under the production eye of Nick Taylor. We think it is beautiful. I offer it to you here.
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