Friday Flowers: Days of Wine and Roses

White dahlias

Vitae Summa Brevis

(By Ernest Dowson)

They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate;
I think they will have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.

They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream

White Dahlia

After highlighting roses throughout the summer, I couldn't do it again. Instead, our focus is on the "Angel of August", the white dahlia. Symbolic of elegance and dedication, it's an auspicious beauty to start off the month.

So, why the title of this post? We're celebrating the birth date of Ernest Dowson, featuring one of his most famous phrases. Anyways, it's closer to our premise than "gone with the wind". ;-)

Torch Songs

Julie London from the cover of Lonely Girl

Whenever I think of "torch songs" or the cool jazz/blues vocal standards of the '50s or early '60s, the performer that immediately comes to mind is Julie London. Her smooth and sultry voice defined the way "sexy" sounded in that era. Yeah, there were singers with greater vocal talents in terms of range or technique. But Julie had a special quality of sensuality and suggestion in her performance style.

Sometimes she would be warmly inviting. Sometimes she would be playful and mischievous. Sometimes she would passionately express her yearnings. Whatever the premise of the song, it was delivered with a melting seductiveness. Classy but coquettish, Julie was the Torch Singer.

Julie London was born on September 26, 1926.

And so we celebrate Julie London's music today on what would have been her 85th Birthday. We still carry a torch for her. ;-)

Happy Father's Day!!!

To Her Father with Some Verses

(By Anne Bradstreet)

Most truly honoured, and as truly dear,
If worth in me or ought I do appear,
Who can of right better demand the same
Than may your worthy self from whom it came?
The principal might yield a greater sum,
Yet handled ill, amounts but to this crumb;
My stock's so small I know not how to pay,
My bond remains in force unto this day;
Yet for part payment take this simple mite,
Where nothing's to be had, kings loose their right.
Such is my debt I may not say forgive,
But as I can, I'll pay it while I live;
Such is my bond, none can discharge but I,
Yet paying is not paid until I die.

It's not my style to celebrate "Hallmark Holidays" but the mood is upon me today. ;-)

In looking for appropriate music to celebrate, I was surprised by the wildly inappropriate Father-themed music out there. LOL!!!