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| In 1960 I smirked a lot. Suit was dead cheap |
Diamond – said to be hard
We tied the Golden knot ten years ago,
And now it's Diamond on October One.
As to Salt, Tin and Copper, who’s to know?
At ninety Granite's not a lot of fun.
We're staying in and trying to avoid,
The faults that turned the wedding into farce,
The groom an oaf and sadly adenoid,
The only blessing was his speech was sparse.
There's Chablis, vintage fizz, and Hermitage,
We'll argue, since it's old-folk's exercise,
Drop off and snore as well becomes our age,
Skirt round the truth and decorate the lies.
And when the heating's off it's duvet time,
To dream up sonnets and their final rhyme
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| By the oughties smile had improved. Ski anorak cost ten times more than wedding suit |
A more conventional (and humane) treatment of this subject will appear on Tone Deaf, October 1
Well, congratulations anyway.
ReplyDeleteTom: The tendency on these occasions is to be solemn and/or mawkish. This is a pretty terrible sonnet (A signal that it's time to give up pretending to be a versifier, perhaps.) but it's neither of those things.
DeleteMazel tov to you and your wife on your 60th anniversary. A wonderful poetic celebration to you both. I loved the photos and the poem.
ReplyDeleterobin andrea: I had thought that "mazel tov" carried a degree of irony, but a check with Wiki showed that this is not the case - it's meant to be taken straight. Well, I've made many mistakes in life and this linguistic error may be just the latest, although it remains to be seen whether 2003 was/is a good year for "vintage fizz". I hate sentimentality but I think I can fairly say that the proposal I made back in Autumn 1959 - ridiculously offhand, as I recall - showed uncharacteristic foresight.
DeleteRoderick-- I remembered this morning that what I could have written was that your marriage was truly bashert. It's a yiddish word I heard often around weddings and anniversaries. It means divinely ordained, a soul-mate.
DeleteWell done both of you.
ReplyDeleteSabine: Excellently expressed. I like the tiniest of hints that it comes as a bit of a surprise, a theme which is intended to pervade the sonnet. I could add: I probably didn't deserve it.
DeleteCongratulations to you both RR and VR.
ReplyDeleteYour sonnet was neat - not terrible at all.
Avus: Neat. Hmmm. A bit like a well-made bed which itself is a useful analogy I will bear in mind when I do the Granite.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Will there be a special bottle of wine to celebrate a long and happy marriage?
ReplyDeleteColette: Not one but three:
DeleteChablis Grand Cru Vaudesir. Christian Moreau Père et fils 2017.
Hermitage La Maison Bleue. Paul Jaboulet 2013.
Champagne Joseph Perrier. Vintage 2008.
Das liebe Diamantenpaar!
ReplyDeleteSechzig Jahre lang zu zweit,
das liebe Leben Seit´an Seit´.
Höhen waren und auch Tiefen,
manchmal gar die Tränen liefen.
Aber alles ging vorbei –
zusammen hielten diese zwei.
Das Jubelpaar, es lebe hoch
und lebe glücklich weiter noch!
Zu Schwer: It's only 07.42 and you're going to have to allow me some time for this. But the general idea is terrific. Danke sehr.
DeleteBut I do recognise that idiomatic use of hoch. R
DeleteI fear this translation is a bit of a shambles but we get the intended gist and appreciate it.
DeleteThe dear (loving?) Diamond couple
Sixty years, two together,
A joyous life, side by side.
Heights there were, and also depths
Sometimes tears on cheeks
But all that's past -
They (remained?) clasped together.
They lived (well regarded? V. diff. to translate)
And happily, even now
Diamond-bright congratulations to you both. May we all be still around, in fine form and high spirits, for the next one.
ReplyDeleteNatalier: Bright is sight and we both know how important that is. Spirits are also important but there are two ways of looking at that word and I'm into both. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteRobbii! Sehr gut! Especially the beginning. I might tweak a few things near the bottom:
ReplyDeleteAber alles ging vorbei –
But all that's past -
zusammen hielten diese zwei.
And still these two hold fast -
Das Jubelpaar, es lebe hoch
Dear Ones, be festive
und lebe glücklich weiter noch!
and keep living happily!
Hugs!!!
Zu Schwer: Ah, it's those small words that make all the difference. And, of course, the subjunctive. Many many thanks for your efforts then and now
ReplyDeleteProst to you both! Always!
ReplyDeleteBelated but very heartfelt congratulations to you both. I'm hoping that my other half has started to save up for ours!
ReplyDelete