'Nutting' ~ Clare's poem set to music by David Rowe (just click on the title above). In 'nutting' Clare recalls his early courtship with Mary Joyce, who was to become his life-long muse. They never married although in his later life Clare was convinced she had been his first wife.
Right rosy gleamed the autumn morn
Right golden shone the autumn sun
The mowers swept the bleachéd corn
While long their early shades did run
The leaves were burnt to many hues
The hazel nuts were ripe & brown
My Mary’s kindness could but choose
To pluck them when I bore them down
The shells her auburn hair did show
A semblance faint yet beautiful
She smiled to hear me tell her so
Till I forgot the nuts to pull
She started at each little sound
The branches made—yet would her eye
Regret the gloom encroaching round
That told her night was in the sky
I helped her through the hedge row gap
& thought the very thorns unkind
As not to part—while in her lap
She sought the ripest bunch to find
T’was Mary’s smiles & sweet replies
That gave the sky so sweet a stain
So bright I never saw him rise
Nor ever set so sweet again
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3 comments:
Thanks for the demo disk, Roger, and compliments to David. We loved the settings and look forward to the finished article appearing on the sales page of the newsletter and elswhere! Jane and Mick Clare
Our compliments Jane (and Mick)... not sure when we can get the whole thing properly recorded. Doing a demo is one thing, a studio recording is entirely another!
Roger
Very much enjoyed this Roger, is David still playing?
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