Juliet and I met on March 16, 1979 - I have photographic evidence. However, she was just one of several pretty girls I met on that weekend a couple of weeks before her 20th birthday. I was in charge of the cooks at the Cronulla retreat centre, also played guitar at some of the sessions. Juliet was there with (in particular) her friend Helen. 

We met and got to know each other a little bit prior to a camp at Katoomba. We count the anniversary of our going out to that weekend on May 19. I was calling a square dance with the aid of a record, and had already decided I wanted to dance with this pretty young lady, so I just let the record run by itself danced with Juliet. Afterwards, we sat in front of the fire and talked until about 4 in the morning. And that was basically us, partnered for life ever since. And Helen found her partner, Nick at the same time and place. All of us in each others' bridal parties, still friends.

By early August I was convinced she was the right one for me, and started writing poetry to her. I'd scribbled several notes on cards (all private), but poems become public property, even if this is the first time I've published anything {But see also the notes on The Fish.} It's part of a poetic diptych, with Evening Song its pair. Plus quite a few more. Love had destroyed my angst, the poems are less intense but equally heartfelt.

Stylistically, 3 verses of 5 lines. Each verse has an A-B-A-B pattern. The 5th line of each verse rhymes. The rhythm is iambic (short-long), and mostly tetrameter, although an occasional pentameter sneaks in.