So, we’ll go no more a roving
So late into the night,
Though the heart be still as loving,
And the moon be still as bright.
For the sword outwears its sheath,
And the soul wears out the breast,
And the heart must pause to breathe,
And love itself have rest.
Though the night was made for loving,
And the day returns too soon,
Yet we’ll go no more a roving
By the light of the moon.
Poem by George Gordon Byron – Lord Byron. 1788–1824.
Drawing: Full Moon by clinock. 18″ x 24″. Pastel and conte on Paper.
Lovely. I sing this — or have done.
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Leonard’s version?
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Were you referring to Leonard Bernstein?
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Nix – Leonard Cohen on his 2004 album, Dear Heather.
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Ouch! I have missed that by a mile . . . .
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The creamy pastels are so fitting for this loving poem. Your translation is beautiful
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Thank you so much Cookie…
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Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I’m sixty-four? BEATLES
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Ah Carl – I didn’t know you cared! Past tense for me now though…
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So beautiful! The couple moving away from each other, it’s a bit sad perhaps, but a beautiful drawing.
My guess is that roving and loving once rhymed in Byron’s days. The two (poem and image) go very well together!
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I was listening to Leonard Cohen’s version of Byron’s poem as I finished the drawing – it was a perfect fit. Thank you Ina for your kind words…
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Your moon brings out wonderful, glowing colors everywhere. Trees and plants turn towards it to absorb the light yet the couple [?], turn away.
I just love it, John. Beautiful.
🙂
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My heart says thank you Marina – I wasn’t sure…
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I love this for many reasons. Of course you knew I would 🙂
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Thank you Moggy – your comment is appreciated…
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What were they doing out there under a full moon?
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You tell me Hansi…
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Really cool piece…van Gogh comes to mind…forbidden love perhaps…the best kind…lol…just kidding!
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Thanks TC – the narrative, if any, is open for the viewer’s interpretation – if you wish for forbidden love, it’s yours…but be careful of that heart condition 😉
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Hi John,
Your painting entitled “Full Moon” reminds me of Arnold Schoenberg’s sumptuously romantic and sensuous musical composition called “Transfigured Night”, composed in 1899. The string sextet “was inspired by Richard Dehmel’s poem of the same name, along with Schoenberg’s strong feelings upon meeting Mathilde von Zemlinsky, the sister of his teacher Alexander von Zemlinsky, whom he would later marry. . . . Dehmel’s poem describes a man and a woman walking through a dark forest on a moonlit night, wherein the woman shares a dark secret with her new lover: she bears the child of another man. The stages of Dehmel’s poem are reflected throughout the composition, beginning with the sadness of the woman’s confession, a neutral interlude wherein the man reflects upon the confession, and a finale which reflects the man’s bright acceptance (and forgiveness) of the woman . . . .”, quoting Wikipedia.
It is quite clear that we are all lovers of the moon here. Please kindly allow me the honour to have my own moon-inspired poem read and commented by you at http://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/if-my-name-were-moon-tonight/.
Thank you in anticipation.
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A fascinating connection you have made and I intend to explore it further. I am also heading over to your Moon poem…
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I am witnessing a chorus. A tenor at large, wooded, calling operas in my mind. Simply lovely, John.
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Ah yes – Now I see and hear the operatic life of this drawing – you open my eyes and ears to fresh visions always – thank you Mari…
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How could I not, thank you.
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Beautiful new one Dad, and nice light, heavenly colours. Floating…
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Hey Sam – thank you – your words mean so much to me as do you…
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Mmmmm…I love the muted colours. There is a sense of loveliness in this painting. At the same time, there is something else that I can’t quite put my finger on.
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Thank you my friend for the “sense of loveliness”. I’m also glad that a sense of mystery exists for you – this is always my intuitive intention…
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but, hey, don’t touch the art…:)
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