~A BED OF ROSES FOR THE BAND PERRY

Rose & Robin is enamored of the song, "If I Die Young," by The Band Perry.  It contains an allusion to a Victorian ballad entitled, "The Lady of Shalotte,"  which was written by an English poet named Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892).  In the music video, Kimberly is lying in a boat, floating down a river, as the Lady of Shalotte does in the poem.  In addition, she holds a copy of the poem, a book, in her hands.

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If I die young, bury me in satin

Lay me down on a bed of roses

Sink me in the river, at dawn

Send me away with the words of a love song

Uh oh, uh oh

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother

She'll know I'm safe with You when she stands under my colors

Oh and life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no

Ain't even gray, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life, well

I've had just enough time

If I die young, bury me in satin

Lay me down on a bed of roses

Sink me in the river, at dawn

Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life, well

I've had just enough time

And I'll be wearing white, when I come into Your kingdom

I'm as green as the ring on my little, cold finger,

I've never known the lovin' of a man

But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand,

There's a boy here in town says he'll love me forever

Who would have thought forever could be severed by

The sharp knife of a short life, well

I've had just enough time

So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls

What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar

They're worth so much more after I'm a goner

And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'

Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'

If I die young, bury me in satin

Lay me down on a bed of roses

Sink me in the river, at dawn

Send me away with the words of a love song

Uh oh (uh, oh)

The ballad of a dove (uh, oh)

Go with peace and love

Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket

Save 'em for a time when your really gonna need 'em, oh

The sharp knife of a short life, well

I've had just enough time

So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls

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*The poem in its entirety can be found here!

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"The Lady of Shalott," by John William Waterhouse

 

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"When talking about The Band Perry, each member of the trio stresses how much family figures into the mix: 'Reid, Neil and I share genes and a musical pedigree,' Kimberly explains. 'We read the same classics and cook from the same recipes. With all of our likenesses though, I believe it's our distinctions that stir up the magic when we create. When the three of us sit down to write songs together, we pull from all of our individual perspectives and happenstances to create the most interesting song concoctions.'"

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Here is a video of the band performing the song on Dancing with the Stars:



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~CALM AFTER THE STORM

Always having been what one would describe as "bookish," it is no surprise that I enjoy incorporating literature into my jewelry; it has been pleasing to me that with the type of pendants I make, a quotation from a classic author can be used to further adorn whatever vintage or antique image I'm using. 

The photos above were taken back in middle and high school when I was on family vacations in sunny locales.  My favorite part of going on trips was being able to take along books I wanted to read, and my nose was stuck in them the entire time, whether I was en route to our destination (via car, plane, or train), on the beach, or in the hotel room. 

In the first photo, I am at my family's condominium at Atlantic Beach, NC, and I'm holding, Night, by Elie Weisel, which we read in school.  The second photo was taken at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and what I'm reading there remains a mystery.  In the last photo, we're either in Florida again or at Sea Island, Georgia.  To my right is a family friend/babysitter who went with us on some of our vacations.  It worked out very nicely that we were both readers and enjoyed each others' company.  The rascal on the far right is my little sister, who was not at all pleased that we were readers, as that meant much less attention for her.  I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I'm reading a scandalous romance novel, which I am proud to admit I have read only a few of in my lifetime, and many years ago at that (see footnote at end of post).

I have never written very much myself; however, the recent spate of tornadic weather which blustered through my city reminded me of Hurricane Fran, which took place 15 years ago (!).  To make a long story short, I recalled being housebound and without television after the fallout from Fran, as trees were down, roads were blocked, and we had no electricity.

Here is a photo of our back yard, showing fallen trees upon our trampoline (see footnote at end of post).

 
I suppose these conditions sparked my creativity, because I pulled out some notebook paper and decided to try and write a few poems.  Tonight, I managed to locate my journal, which I haven't looked at since that time.  Lo and behold, the two poems I remember having written post-Fran are in there, as are several more, which I had forgotten about having written. 

Here is the first, which I can only decscribe as being stream-of-consciousness; I could delve into exactly what it means to me, but...nah.  It will say, though, that it seems to have issued forth from the "dark and twisty" side of my personality (see footnote at end of post).

FORSAKEN WAVES OF REGRET
      LOST AMONGST THE FLOOD
RINSING OUT HIS PERSPECTIVE
      PRESSING THE WRINKLES
            OF HIS FURLED ASPECT
STARCHED AND BLEACHED
      IMBUED WITH PROPRIETY
THE SEAMS ARE STRAIGHT
      STALWART CUFFS
BECOMING CIRCUMSPECT
      FOLDING UP HIS STATE OF MIND
HIS LOT ON HIS COLLAR
      HIS DESTINY ON A LINE
WRAPPED AROUND HIS OWN COATTAILS
      MESHING WITH HIS PHYSIQUE...

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU SEEK?

I wrote the second poem while listening to my Out of Africa motion picture soundtrack.  Though the book is one of my favorites, ironically, I have never seen the movie.  However, the score is melancholy and personal, romantic and sweeping (see footnote at end of post).  As I listened to it on my little portable CD player, this is what it inspired me to write...

Singular memories
                 f l o a t i n g like dreams
Waving around doorways
      Subjects of themselves
Hues that sing to unseen things
      My own two eyes looking on
            Ennobling to watch
                  The colors recount their own story

Metaphysical moments
      Sun-gilt on the steps
                  step
                        down
                     
                               Your throne is waiting
                                                  On top of the sun

                                                            You are a flaming sphere
                                                            And a cold tide
                                                            all
                                                            in
                                                            one

In closing, perhaps it would be best if I weren't whipsawed by bad weather into writing poetry anytime in the future, as I'm definitely no poet laureate, nor can I ever hope to win the Nobel Prize in Literature...*sigh*

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Footnotes:

1. I don't consider it to be a splendidly worthwhile pursuit to read this type of book because I don't believe they have much, if any, artistic or moral value.  uh-hum.  In fact, I found the book I am reading in the pic in the hotel room when we arrived there; a previous guest must have left it behind, and I can see why they didn't consider it to be a treasured possession.

2. Trampolines are certainly on my "thanks-but-no-thanks" list as well, as I believe they are neck injuries waiting to happen.  In fact, someone I know was once bounced off of one, and he landed head first with his head between two of the springs around the edge.  A friend had to pry the springs apart so he could get his head out.  Blessedly, he wasn't hurt.  amen.

3. Though I have issues with the television show, Grey's Anatomy (the foremost of them being that so many of the characters are promiscuous, and not only that, they switch their liaisons, pairing off with each other--ick!), I have taken a hankering to the way in which the character, Meredith Grey, is described by her love interest; let's just say I can personally relate to the concept of "dark and twisty."  can i get a testimony?

4. Here is a video of Aliona Savchenko and Robin(!) Szolkowy skating to the "Out of Africa" score at a competition.  Check out the amazing lift which begins at minute 3:10.  bee-yoo-tee-full.



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