When the lovers finally are still,
The moon sent aloft over the hill,
The mighty angel army encamped
In shadow behind the table lamp;
As the stars spread then fold over
The gray quiet hills and the clover,
A hush comes on the sleeping world,
Like the deadly calm after a tragic war.
There’s the martyr in his cold stone cell,
Who thinks his window’s a wishing well.
He entreats the night with words that drone-
That get covered up by winds that moan.
And the night’s a lady in satin,
Moving with slow indifferent action.
Her skirt sweeps slyly past the window,
As the martyr bends, broken and low.
She sweeps down the moon with her palm,
To hide herself from claws of dawn.
Those fingers rip streams of brightest red,
And the sun puts light into her head.
As the lady turns suddenly old,
She just fades into the morning gold.
The lovers rise up rejoicing,
As the martyr seeks reinforcing.
And the angels breaking up camp;
Back to the turmoil and the war.
Straight into the atmosphere they tramp.
The human heart turns into a scar.
With your heart
You wake up early
To sip the silver of the morning
With your heart
With your heart
And the moonbeams linger
Like the laughter of an angel
They’re a dart
In your heart
As the day breaks you’re counting the final score
And you don’t believe there are angels anymore
And the sun of the day rolls heavily on
And you wonder what it will be like once you are gone
You grieve your daughter
And yet dismiss the deep sorrow
In her heart
In her heart
These are scars that will linger
Like the lancet of the devil
To her heart
To her heart
And you take one last look at the face in the mirror
Staring blankly at the deadness blanking horror
And the sun of the day seems heavily stoned
You wonder what it will be like once the news it is known
But its better not linger
As you work a task with your fingers
Isn’t suicide easy in the night
Tie the knot tight
- written with Phil Ochs in mind
These are your scars
Wear them with pride
Like the night with its stars
Scars you can’t hide
Scars tinted with love
Scars tainted with hate
Scars soakin’ in blood
Scars touting your fate
Ugly to view
You know it’s true
And yet someone loves you
And yes someone loves you
For love is blind
Love clouds the mind
Makes one caring and kind
Love lets you find
Scars tinted with love
Scars tainted with hate
Scars soakin’ in blood
Scars touting your fate
Ugly to view
You know it’s true
And yet someone loves you
And yes someone loves you
It’s sometimes a hard road, ain’t it son?
And a long old way until the race is won
Sometimes you’re tired
‘N’ sometimes you’re wired
‘N’ I hope you sometimes have some fun
Remember it’s not just feathered wings makes a bird to fly
It’s knowing he’s ready makes him even try
If at first he falls
The bird recalls
The thrill he felt as he’s soaring through the sky
And sometimes when it seems you’re all alone
Turn around I’m cheering from my paternal zone
Though words might fail
May love prevail
If not this brass ring then another one
Remember it’s not just feathered wings makes a bird to fly
It’s knowing he’s ready makes him even try
If in flight he stalls
The bird recalls
The thrill and soon he’s soaring through the sky
I’m not the parent you might have had
In every family’s some good and then some bad
Be your own man
And not your old man
Set your own terms and make both of us glad
After all it’s not just feathered wings makes a bird to fly
It’s knowing he’s ready makes him even try
He soars over walls
However tall
The thrill and the knowing as he’s soaring through the sky
Each year, I write something for Christmas. Sometimes I like the result, sometimes not. The big problem for me is, all the cliches and nice phrases are overworked by thousands of writers and would be writers. It's hard to get beyond that and still sound "Christmasy." The following may or may not be subject to revision, pending further review. It is perhaps three years old.
"My Gift For You Will Be"
written with Tony Bennet's voice in my ear
My gift to you will be
More than a prize
Underneath a Christmas tree
Wise and wonderful bride
A star will take us
On a magical ride
Soon you will see
The world below us will be
A jewel in the mist
O’er it we pause
Shocking Mister Claus
With a long lover’s kiss
My love for you will be
More than a prize
More than a prize
Changed some of the words to this
Reflection Song
It’s sometimes a hard road, ain’t it son?
And a long old way until the race is won
Sometimes you’re tired
‘N’ sometimes you’re wired
‘N’ I hope you sometimes have some fun
It ain’t just feathered wings makes a bird to fly
It’s knowing he’s ready makes him even try
Sometimes he stalls
‘N’ maybe he falls
‘N’ yet flits back into the sky
And sometimes it seems you’re all alone
You’ll find me cheering from my paternal zone
Though words might fail
May love prevail
If not this brass ring then another one
It ain’t just feathered wings makes a bird to fly
It’s knowing he’s ready makes him even try
Sometimes he stalls
‘N’ maybe he falls
‘N’ yet flits back into the sky
I’m not the parent you might have had
In every family’s some good and then some bad
Be your own man
And not your old man
Set your own terms and make both of us glad
After all
It ain’t just feathered wings makes a bird to fly
It’s knowing he’s ready makes him even try
He soars over walls
However tall
The thrill the knowing soaring through the sky
