27 Nov 2009

I dream of Jeanne


I dream of Jeanne with the light brown hair,
Borne like a vapor on the sweet summer air;
I see her tripping where the bright streams play,
Happy as the daisies that dance on her way.
Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour,
Many were the blithe birds that warbled them o'er:
I dream of Jeanne with the light brown hair,
Floating, like a vapor, on the soft summer air.

I long for Jeanne with the daydawn smile,
Radiant in gladness, warm with winning guile;
I hear her melodies, like joys gone by,
Sighing round my heart o'er the fond hopes that die:
Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain,
Waiting for the lost one that comes not again:
I long for Jeanne, and my heart bows low,
Never more to find her where the bright waters flow.

I sigh for Jeanne, but her light form strayed,
Far from the fond hearts round her native glade;
Her smiles have vanished and her sweet songs flown,
Flitting like the dreams that have cheered us and gone.
Now the nodding wild flowers may wither on the shore
While her gentle fingers will cull them no more:
Oh! I sigh for Jeanne with the light brown hair,
Floating, like a vapor, on the soft summer air.

Stephen Foster 1854
Do you have a special song? I Dream of Jeanne (with apologies for changing the spelling) is mine. My parents both sang it to me as a child - especially if I was sad, but not only then. Ben sang it at my 21st Birthday and Russell at my wedding. Sometimes today I hum it to myself.

Interestingly it is not special to my beloved. We have two special songs together: Only a Woman's Heart by Mary Black and Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers. Russell sang them at our wedding too.

Yes, I am a Genie in a bottle.

Does knowing that change the way you think of me?

14 comments:

  1. I just HAD to get on here this morning to find out how you say your name! Good thing I found out before I met you IRL! Gee, how embarassing would that have been for me and you I guess! You are certainly a Genie in the bottle with that big revelation and all the magic you spring on us each day through your blog!

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  2. Very clever. :)

    I have missed your last few posts so it took me awhile to 'get it'!

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  3. NO!
    Really??
    Wow!
    Yes! It changes EVERYTHING!

    Well...not really everything, but still.

    (I like it by the way)

    x

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  4. Who would have thought? :-) You made me choke up today. My now-deceased grandpa would sing that to my sister and I when we were little tykes. Course he sang it with an Alabama southern accent.

    I haven't heard that song in 10+ years.

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  5. Wow, I have to start saying your name differently in my head now!
    I must admit I did hum & hah a bit when I first "met" you as to whether it was pronounced "Jean" or "Jeanie". I decided on "Jean" since your name had the single e at the end. Well, I'll have to change my pronunciation now!!
    Have a great day, Jeanne (ie) ;-)

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  6. Hi Jeanne,
    I shall have to concentrate really hard now to pronounce your name in my head as I write to you, as I thought it was pronounced Jean. :P

    I love the name Jeanne (Genie), though - it flows off the tongue so well. :)

    Have a great week Jeanne (Genie)
    Love and blessings,
    Jillian

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  7. Well, I shall have to adapt to the image of you as Barbara Eden now instead of plain Jean!

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  8. Still working on the sexy factor. On the arm fold winky bit as well! I wonder what dh would think if I started calling him 'Master'?!

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  9. Ganeida, We're in Melbourne unil Sunday night. Would Monday do for email contact, or do you need me to contact you from my Mum's tomorrow?

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  10. lol It's not earth shattering but I thought you, of all people, would appreciate the irony. Monday is fine. ☺ Enjoy your time in Melbourne though it's not a patch on Sydney. ;)

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  11. I love that your parents sang a special song to you growing up! What sweet and precious memories you must have of that!

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  12. Dear oh dear: confession time. I *have* met you in real life and I don't think I even said your name. I didn't know if it was Jean or Jeannie or Gian so I didn't say anything! How rude is that!

    My apologies. Now that I know how to think of and say your name I will not be so timid.

    Blessings, Jeanne.

    Very humbly,
    Rebecca

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