Lyrics & Poems
Ho-hum © 1981
Ho-hum -- feeling sort of slow and lazy. Not the kind of day for acting crazy.
More likely read a book
without looking at the time.
That's fine with me.
Or spending hours in restful contemplation, fascinated by my mind's creations. Staring at the wall -- you might think that's kind of strange, but it's fine with me.
That little voice that keeps pushing -- works me so hard -- is on vacation today. So I'm bound to be taking it easy while I've got this time to play.
Maybe take a little walk while the sun still shines. Shuffling my feet and singing old rhymes. I go no special way but today no one will mind and it's fine with me.
Yellow Leaves © 2017
A search for understanding
of this life I've made.
A winding path of circumstance
is how the game is played.
Moment upon moment
builds the dust of time.
A road I tread to find a thread
of harmony or rhyme.
And traveling this road,
the hillsides covered in trees.
Yellow leaves, Spring or Fall –
Doesn't matter much at all.
Bringing back the faces
of those I've known and loved.
Being kind was first in mind
and yet we pushed and shoved.
Distance places I called home
still haunt my memories.
The things most dear can disappear
like leaves from Autumn trees.
And traveling this road,
the hillsides covered in trees.
Yellow leaves, Spring or Fall –
Doesn't matter much at all.
Someplace Once Ours © 1981
How I’ve waited for your arrival
and hellos – the long embrace.
Pardon me, am I staring?
There’s so much we’ll be sharing
and I don’t yet believe that it’s you.
Very soon you look quite familiar
as remembrance blends into your face.
And the words come in showers –
talk and tea ‘til late hours
and not yet quite ready for rest.
And the following day blooms majestic,
though it loses a bit of its grace
as our words begin seeking
and we stumble in reaching
that easy rapport of the past.
Just as returning to someplace once ours
isn’t quite what we thought it might be.
It’s more than the distance,
the place, or the time
and it’s no less in you than in me.
We may find renewal
or just drift away
though our memories surely survive.
Still I’m glad that I know you;
had the chance to share with you.
Such a blessing to see you, my friend.
So many eyes to see from,
but the differences don’t erase
our knowing we’ve cared for
each other so much more
than separate points of view.
As you go I feel mixed emotion,
a bittersweet kind of space.
A relief and a grieving –
so soon you are leaving
and when will I see you again?
Late Blooming Flower ©1983
Late blooming flower –
Beauty took a while to catch up with you.
At times you thought the dream
would never come true.
It takes a long time to grow.
Hiding your face behind a mask
of feigned indifference, you wait.
Inside you’re anxiously
awaiting your fate –
will it ever come to you?
To see you now it’s hard to believe
the trials that you’ve been through.
Tears you cried all alone
rained upon fertile ground
and the self you’d hidden grew.
You found freedom
and what you wanted came to you.
You learned to ignore those pointed insults,
but they still left their scars.
You put your hopes away
in unlabeled jars
to open in better times.
But time has a way of healing wounds,
and if you keep hope alive
old beauties fade out
while others arrive.
Your time has come to you.
Fly Away ©1983
Making believe that I’m satisfied –
so hard to hide
a dream when it’s missing.
My smile comes more slowly now,
like I’ve forgotten how.
I’ve got to be kissing
this life away.
Year after year of harder times –
unspoken lines,
not saying “I love you” –
have taken their toll on me.
Just let me be.
I can’t say I need you anymore.
What more can I say?
What more can a wing say
but “fly away”.
Fly away.
I hardly remember when love was young,
a song unsung –
now we’ve lost the chorus.
And looking within your eyes
I see that I’ve no branch
in the forest
to rest upon.
Lady Rain ©1981
Oh Lady Rain –
beading on velvet flowers.
There to bejewel the hours before dawn
‘til the sun gleams upon your face.
Lady Rain –
wearing a multi-hued ring –
a gentle reminder of Spring in the air
and the way that you care for life.
You’re that beautiful giver of life.
Oh Lady Rain –
your song whispers through the grass.
I hear you moving past all alone
as you make your way home to earth.
Lady Rain –
sit you down by my side
and feel that rhythmic tide deep within;
the sea ends and begins with your touch.
With your ever soothing touch.
For Graham ©1981
Like the final glow
of the Persied meteor shower
you blend into the dawn.
Entering a new world of light
you find waiting hands and hearts.
Your first cry…
Such a look you have
as you gaze into this strange room
where colors shift and flow.
Maybe you’re fearful at this sight –
May we soothe you with our love.
Rest your eyes…
Once I thought I’d never have the chance
to give love
and in giving get it back.
But I have felt you grow
and finally I’m sure I know it.
What a wait it’s been
and we’ve come so much closer
as the vigil passed.
Now you’ve told us that the time is right
so we reach out to you.
Welcome home…
Pebble In The Stream ©1981
There are many roads to heaven –
countless well-laid plans.
Seen them half-price in old news stands;
heard many told first-hand.
We seem a race of dreamers,
and me – I share that role.
But for every person’s rainbow
there are many to console.
And this life is made of seasons
like sculptors to your clay.
The shaping done by freeze and thaw
as fragments wash away.
Love every fleeting moment
but don’t forget to dream.
Just keep your heart up,
then you’ll roll
like a pebble in the stream.
We’ve all seen those warm glances
become anger’s battered wills.
Your star’s a bursting nova
which then in darkness chills.
But this pain of broken hopes
whose blackened ashes lie
returns as Phoenix rising
and reborn lovers fly.
[Chorus]
I know now I’m believing
and it’s written in your eyes.
Though there’s never any guarantee
it’s surely worth the try,
for many of our visions
provide the other’s keys.
We’ll share the road in going
where we in time will be.
[Chorus]
A Summer’s Tune ©2017
It seems such a long while since Winter has passed.
The waiting is ended – I feel you at last.
These long days of sunlight are balm to my skin.
With arms open wide I welcome you in.
A summer's tune -- and the evening's still warm
under the moon.
The gardenia's perfume has lingered since noon.
Knowing that I'll be holding you soon,
I hum this summer's tune.
The hummingbird dashes from flower to flower
as we let time drift by us hour by hour.
The wind in the grass sighs a hushed melody
while an unseen voice sings from the top of a tree.
[instrumental]
And although we tumble headlong into Fall;
Though days shorten quickly, we still hear its call.
When summer has faded – the chill drawing near.
The summer tune’s a whisper but I still hold you, dear.
A summer’s tune…
Wounded Bird ©1980
A wounded bird, you flew toward me
with your wing-tips dragging the ground.
And from far off
I heard your aching sound.
Across a table, dimly lit,
with strange faces all around,
In my eyes
a wounded bird you found.
And we both reach out again –
creatures of habit and need.
Knowing that the comfort
is a temporary seed
growing only to fill the night
and bind the wings of wounded birds.
We both know comfort; we know desire,
having been in love, having lost it.
We use each other
to fill the time between.
Clinging together – this unsteady raft
on a journey with no destination.
A solitary passage
to the dawn.
Yet we both reach out again –
creatures of habit and need.
Knowing that the comfort
is a temporary seed
growing only to fill the night
and bind the wings of wounded birds.
Lovemaking Eyes ©1980
Morning’s veil’s not raised;
The shadow of your face,
a gem set within the night
and not yet touched by the light.
Though soon enough I’ll see
those lovemaking eyes.
Those eyes glow from the heart;
The thought of them will start
rich memories swirling ‘round.
Conversing without a sound,
I hear within my soul
your lovemaking eyes.
This place not quite in time;
Some kind of borderline:
A picture that I will keep
just as you arise from sleep
and greet a waiting smile
with lovemaking eyes.
Next First Kiss ©2008
The evening is clicking –
the music is fine.
A table with candles, soft voices, and wine.
The glances hold promise –
Brief touches feel right
as we linger together ‘til late in the night.
Begin to wonder where it all goes from here –
Remaining like strangers or soon calling her “dear”.
The ride is just beginning and it’s not to be missed –
‘Tain’t nothing but the next first kiss.
A walk in the dark
lit up by the moon.
The middle of winter but pretending it’s June.
Dressed up and in tune,
and the words smoothly flow.
So abandon all caution or just take it slow.
Begin to wonder where it all goes from here –
Remaining like strangers or soon calling her “dear”.
The ride is just beginning and it’s not to be missed –
‘Tain’t nothing but the next first kiss.
‘Tain’t nothing but the next first kiss.
‘Tain’t nothing but the next first kiss.