Twilit Water, Vanished Music
From Finger-Songwriter
The nightingale sings, “Halleloo”
The nightingale sings “Halleloo” while the soft penninsula sleeps.
The kingfisher’s blue bolt at dusk
The kingfisher’s blue bolt at dusk whispers sighs through the vanishing trees.
The river’s long swerve the twilit embrace of blue
Like some vanished song, the music returns to you, the world you knew, comes rushing back to you.
The glass silhouette, golden gray
The glass silhouette, golden gray, of a cloud the horizon drinks down.
The blackberry sage sings and sways
The bushes are singing praise of wind and waves, they’re singing secret praise.
The juniper buds dark and true the juniper buds dark and true fill with dew in gardens and woods.
The gathering stars dive and play
The gathering stars dive and play a migration of glistening birds.
The river’s long swerve the twilit embrace of blue
Like some vanished song, the music returns to you, the world you knew, comes rushing back to you.
The lilt of her voice, sweet but sad
The lilt of her voice, sweet but sad on the evening she sang “Halleloo.”
Kneel
(Unreleased)
When the body cannot bear it,
When the pity’s too profound
When mem’ries break like waves upon your conscience,
Kneel your knees upon the ground.
Weep for emptiness and fullness,
Cry for pebbles and for clouds,
For curling smoke above forgotten houses,
Kneel your knees upon the ground.
A school girl in blue and white, whirling in evening’s light
A kiss by the boathouse door, leaving you needing more
The horns of a harbor heard chanting love, word by word
To live it is raw and rare, like a prayer, everywhere.
Feel the soil soft beneath you,
See the hills in ochre drowned
And hear the bugle twilight blowing
Kneel your knees upon the ground.
A Single Moment
From Finger-Songwriter
Unearthly waves, purple and blue
Lit by the moonlight that’s lighting up you
Someday we will flow, into that sea
And in the deep I’ll be hoping, I’ll be hoping
That you’ll wave to me.
Stars wink like friends, saying, “hello.”
Sharing some secrets that only they know
Someday we will burn, fiery and free
And in the night I’ll be hoping, I’ll be hoping
That you’ll wink at me.
The Inevitable Letdown
From Finger-Songwriter
Light yourself a cigarette, my boy! Light it with a star!
And comb your hair with reams of moonbeams gathered from afar.
And if you should ever feel loneliness creepin’ in, pour yourself a drink:
How bizarre; the bubbles wink right in sync
Light up dark rooms with your smile and make that cold night hot.
If you’re lonely just tell yourself that you’re not!
When things are goin’ good, boy, gin-filled drinks and flowin’ food, boy,
Waitin’ for the inevitable letdown is all you’ve got.
Light the lights and strike the band, my bow; let that music play.
To have this green world at this feet’s too sweet for shades of gray.
What you’re after’s lots of laughter – laugh it louder, laugh it faster still.
Life’s a stale, bitter pill, so get your fill.
Savvy folks strike hard and fast, my boy, when that iron’s hot
If I lie, may I die, my lord, on the spot.
Keep makin’ lucky bets, boy; cheat at cards and duck your debts, boy.
Waitin’ for the inevitable letdown is all you’ve got.
Lighter Than Air
From Housewarming
Wicked, like a river, your night eyes are wicked.
Wicked, like a shotgun, your bare shoulders are wicked.
Dang’rous, like a coil, your blue gown is dang’rous.
Dang’rous, like a heartbeat, your blush lips are dang’rous.
The flow of your curves is like a miracle of dawn bringing day;
The satin shadows lay asleep on your face
The blossoms of May.
Fevered, like a sunrise, your fingertips are fevered.
Fevered, like a nightmare, your slow dance is fevered.
Chilling, like a sickle, your laughing shrug is chilling.
Chilling, like a moonbeam, your warm touch is chilling.
Your eyes are the night, you hold the firmament of stars in your stare
The constellations share a dance on your cheek
You’re lighter than air
New Old West Theme
From Housewarming
Will you carve me a cathedral,
Out of clouds and wind and air,
Will you make me spires and archways,
Everywhere, everywhere?
Will you drape the skies above us,
With a cloth of blue and gray,
Will you hang the far horizon,
Every day, every day?
Come and lie with me
By the silent sea
Come and feel the sting
Of the salt on the breeze
Come be free with me
By the silent sea
Feel the reckless flame
Of a golden eve
Will you make the ground feel holy,
Turn each step into a prayer,
Will you bless the mud and daisies,
Everywhere, everywhere?
Will you plant an endless garden
To bloom bright in early May,
Will you pick the fruits and blossoms,
Every day, every day?
Will you whisper me a secret
Of a kingdom far away?
Will you tell me tales of wonder,
Every day, every day?