Enga mellom fjella

December's song

It was the 1980s I believe, and my friend Kevin had 'rescued' me. I was living in a cold northern clime at the time, but we hadn't had a killing frost and I believe somewhere along Delaware Avenue there were roses trying to bloom. One was pink. I remember writing a song to Kevin because it was his birthday, the 1st of December.

I only remember part of it and have tried to resurrect it a few times since, with mixed success.

Today I spoke with a student, Vincent Spardino, who is going for his PhD in Social Welfare/Work. His dissertation will be on spirituality. Vincent reminded me so much of Kevin when I first saw him and his wife weeks ago and then even more so today when we had a chance to talk at length. He has a good heart, just like Kev. And he's from Montreal, so we had LOTS to talk about.

So I sat down and wrote some new lyrics, combining old and new to a tune I made up and memorized over 20 years ago:

December's song

Kevin, oh Kevin,
November'd lost its gold;
the frost lay on the pale pink rose;
white geese had fled the cold,
         the geese had fled the cold.

Kevin, dear Kevin,
has your love for me been lost?
No longer can I hear your voice;
I cannot bear this frost,
         I dare not share this frost.

Kevin, oh Kevin,
I do not sleep; I dose.
but on that day I do not wake,
go pluck a pale pink rose
         go leave a pale pink rose.

© 2008 Kåre Enga [165.113] 2008-06-14

These are actually 'lyrics', something I rarely do. In a hymnal it would be 5.6.8.6.6. but the melody is 8.7.8.7.7. maybe. Both times 'Kevin' is three beats and the comma one. In lines 2,4,5 the last words are one syllable but two beats. If you are musical, I hope this makes some sense. On paper then, if there were an additional pause at the beginning of lines 2,4,5, would it then equal 8 beats with 3 or 4 stressed? I have always lamented that I didn't take Music Theory in high school.

In Montreal where Vincent hails from: 73º
In Lawrence where Vincent now lives: 73º

In Cupertino, California where Kev lives: 67º
In Peoria, Illinois where Kev's folks live: 74º

Imagine this rose in pink:

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