Folklore & Inspiration Friday – A Rose, a Song and a Poem

March is both the month in which the leaves of the big tree at my humble abode start to turn yellow and the month in which St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated. I must have some Celtic gene in me somewhere, because I adore Celtic music. As I was thinking about some inspiration for March, I was reminded of a translation of “My Luve’s Like a Red, Red Rose” which was translated in the early 1920s by Eugène N. Marais – one of the best known Afrikaans writers. After this lovely poem I turn my attention to the “language of flowers” and roses in particular.

Classic poem, classic song

I’ve copied the text from the book In Poet’s Company[1], which I have used before for Inspiration Friday. More about the history of thissong can be found here.

My Luve’s Like a Red, Red Rose

O, my luve’s like a red, red rose,

That’s newly sprung in June:

O, my luve’s like the melodie

That’s sweetly played in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a’ the seas gang dry:

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;

I will luve thee still, my dear,

While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve!

And fare thee weel a while!

And I will come again, my luve,

Though it were ten thousand mile.

Here is a video of King's Singers singing this classic:

And here is the translation:

“My liefste’s soos ’n dieprooi roos”[2]

Na die gedig van Burns

 O, my Liefste’s soos ’n dieprooi roos

wat skitter in die dou;

My Liefste’s soos ’n helder lied

wat sag sy wys ontvou.

O Liefling, net so skoon as jy,

so reik my liefde hoog,

en glo my dit sal suiwer duur

totdat die see verdroog.

O, Soetste, tot die see verdroog,

die vaste grond vergaan,

sal ek my Liefde vas behou

deur heel my lewensbaan.

En, O, my Liefling, nou vaarwel,

neem al my sugte mee!

En glo dat ek terug sal kom,

al keer die diepste see.

Die Boerevrou, Desember 1921; Gedigte, 1925

Folklore Friday: The Meaning Behind a Rose

As those who often read this blog knows; I find folklore and mythology fascinating. The meaning of different flowers is one of those things I wish I could remember more of (but at least I have a few reference books for when my memory needs some help). In the Brewer’sDictionary of Phrase and Fable – probably one of the best known dictionaries – the following list of types of roses and their meanings is given:

“In the language of flowers different roses signify different characteristics or attributes, among them the following:

Burgundy rose: simplicity and beauty

China rose: grace or beauty ever fresh

Daily rose: a smile

Dog rose: pleasure mixed with pain

Faded rose: beauty is fleeting

Japan rose: beauty is your sole attraction

Moss rose: voluptuous love

Musk rose: capricious beauty

Provence rose: my heart is in flames

White rosebud: too young to love

White rose full of buds: secrecy

Wreath of roses: beauty and virtue rewarded

Yellow rose: infidelity”

(Brewer 2009:1142)[3]

With thanks to the Graphics Fairy 

---

[1] Parker, E.W. 1951. The Poets’ Company. Vol. I. To the Nineteenth Century. Longmans, Green and Co. London.

[2] Eugène N. Marais. 2005. Die volledige versamelde gedigte. Eds. Baard, M. et al. Protea Boekehuis, Pretoria.

[3] Rockwood, C. (ed.).Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase & Fable, 18^th edition. Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. Edinburgh. www.brewersreference.com