Bearing with the Bard ( for Pat) - with audio

audio link

The bear came to my table

Strong and able

Telling of the field and meadow 

All with great longing he 

Wanting company and tea

a very sociable fellow

He drank my wine

Ate my loaf in time

Whilst visiting for the day 

Wanting to play an affable host

and turning white as a ghost

I invited him to stay

He taught me how to hunt and fish

For berries in the chocolate ice cream dish

He waxed philosophical

Then lectured on earth and religion

Making points to man with precision

Of saints, and Shakespeare metaphysical

Though gruff and snorting

With fearful cavorting

He meant no harm you see 

By and by as hours past 

Making all clear at last

We learned of his history

None dared move him from his place

As in the several hours space

He licked his paws and all plates clean

Til off to bed we crept

Above the angels laughed and wept

Watching down upon the scene

When came thereafter the morning dawn

There he was upon our lawn

He quoted me his poetry

But my ears they could not hear

Then came upon me a kind of fear

My mind bewildered at the symmetry

I realized then that by some magic spell

While stumbling into the camp of day

As if still in the night of forest play

For reason that no one could tell

Sitting quizzical on me his wide eyes stared

That grizzly bruin once so terrible, had been made a bard

While I uncivilized, held others at bay

My Dragons breath, and claws bid them pray 

A grumpy growl said, not now, don't care

There found in me, my heart and eyes

By some twist of fate to my surprise

This Nick Bottom, who thought himself so wise,
Had in the night changed places so that he was now the bear.

epilogue: serves to make one take note of bearings and moorings;
Contemplating proclivities on the high seas of humanities' knees.

Banjo Song - with audio

audio link

A. Carry me away by and by

Through the trees on the breeze way up high

Lay me deep down in love by the Grand Canyon river 
so that I might rise with the doves

A. O little bird, o tiny bird

Darting in and out of blossoms like a bee

Like a rainbow cross the sky, as you buzz to and fro, 

Humming songs that set the lovers heart free

B. In the eyes of a child, saw a lovin pure heart

It gave me joy, it gave me joy

Watch em run all about, hear em scream hear em shout

Fair blessed goodness is each girl and boy

A. So, Cast me off, Cast me off now and then

Just like Jonah and the sea faring men

Send me far below in the belly of the whale,
spit me up on dry land once again

A. Looking up at your face in the dome of night
Moon and Stars swimming in the deep and wide
I get dizzy as the wind spins this old world around
Wheel in wheel beneath His majesty on high

B. In the meadow stands a man and a wife

With the flowers, full of love and the strife of life

Cast your cares upon Him, the bright morning star

So that the little children might know peace.

A. O' Catch me up, catch me up, take me away
In the Heavenly Host's eternal day
Like Enoch and Elijah in a chariot of flame
Bowing low before Jerusalem's King

B. Sky below and Sea above
Curling wind playing in the sun's face of love
There's a secret rarely told, what gives life to a soul
Warmth, joy and laughter in a well-lit home

A. Lay me down, lay me down, down to rest
Let the tombstone read: he did his best
To humbly care for those on earth
While givin praise to the One above
Please raise him up in the Savior's love

A. Carry me away by and by

Through the trees on the breeze way up high

Lay me deep down in love by grand canyon river 
so that I might rise with the doves

The Wind and Sky - with audio

Audio Link 

 

In the darkness came a light cast down as a shield of love and encouragement

Then the wind blew in from the north like a bony finger poking me in the ribs

It was cold and relentless, it blew up the mountainsides and over the snowy peaks

Spraying the dancing prisms in every direction like flocks of white arctic terns

It blew down the slopes and filled the Valleys in the black of moonless nights

Banging metal gates, chasing palm fronds, like limbs with giant hands, leaving husks behind on the street

That looked like dried up sea turtles that had lost their way,

causing strife among all

It blew over my nights, in my sleepless dreams, and then onto sunlit harrowed day

There, breathing threats, anguish and fears in the breast of beasts, and in the families of man

The winds crashed through the window of life onto the desktop, scattering script and parchment

Blowing letters right off the page; passing them over one week of days and into the next

Blasting they came over  and over, like restless whispering souls in the swirling strokes of The Starry Night

Herded, pushed, and lead along by the unseen beating wings of countless celestial singing angels

It blew in sickness and then carried it out again with the dust and leaves and old papers strewn about

The hand of the Great unseen Spirit sent the wind to cleanse the land, to scrub it clean and to test each one

It came to refresh the air and all the creatures in its path like children waiting to be clothed and fed

So forceful was the caress from this tide of unseen waves that it swept the future into the past,

As it broke into my sleep again and again so that I wandered aimlessly and anxiously

Walking and working in places of the past, lost and confused,

making deals for no one, disoriented in the once familiar,

Searching out friends that were no longer there, trying to find my way back in other cities and times

Then a voice spoke from within my sleep, within my heart saying; “today is one of special happenings”

“A time of new beginnings,” but someone called my name, and then again, till I awoke and went with her

She took my hand and showed the way outside to the yard, and gestured toward the sky in awe

Dawn, covered in a stunning onward stretching shout of, burnt reds, pinks, and mauves,

Gentle, looking down upon us in innocence like a big blue eye baby covered in rose petals

The wind agreed to be silent for a while, as was the morning,

so that every still bosom might drink the milk of the newborn day

This Winter's day every beating heart,  great and small is renewed and the world is given life once more

There we were,  a part of it all,  I in my T-shirt and boxers, 

Love in her robe,  smiling at one another,

Sunlight in our hearts and in the eyes of our children.

Love's Embrace - with audio

audio link 

Forget now One
and here bequeath
Many deeds done, 
Behind, beneath
all the words said

Time to brush teeth 
digest the day's bread

Don once more 
the clown like clothing

Give into gravity 
tired bodies groaning

Fidget about lights 
huddled little tiny cares

Whisper Scriptures, 
speak quiet prayers

Cold night 
warm bed

Lay beside 
the one I wed

Gentle breath, 
heart thats giving

Reminds one now 
life's worth living

Kindness there 
in love's embrace

Soft the utterance
of heaven's grace

Then plunder slumber 
in sleep's chamber

There the soul 
to unencumber

Swiftly sort and 
sweep away

Seasoned reason
Tangled day

Shadows, shades, 
memories, ghosts

Dragons, bears, 
tigers, boasts

Fears, tears, 
hoping visions

Family, friends, 
not forgotten

Falling, flying, 
floating skies

Stars upon the 
flowing midnights

Turn and churn 
within the clouds

Misty frosts, 
life's lovings crowd

machinations, planning
Dizzy scheming

The mind 
brings forth 
in crazy dreaming

Confused images 
of silly stages

Tug on covers 
each engages

Falling down 
back into bed

Reaching out 
in darkened stead

Safe harbor from 
wind and storm

Silent wisdom 
enraptured forms

Stay until 
the dawn arise

Fix thereon the
spirit's bright eyes

Eternal One 
restores each soul

Thank the creator 
shuffling on to goal

Fuzzy clarity 
innocent warning

Calling out 
to each 
good morning

breakfast spree
coffee, tea
soap and face

then off 
to race

Now again 
with sleep unfurled

bring this comfort 
into the world

Each on pace 
to busied place

Within cups 
overflowing 
FROM love's 
embrace

The Grand Design - with audio

audio link

The grand design it snow blinds
Great life travels on and unwinds
The powers commanded failing
Exasperations of the future flailing
Nuclear Fires fanning
Quantum leaps spanning
Waves come in with foam
Out roaring again they go
But the staircase seems to get sharper
With each step ever cutting steeper
Ticking tells the fierce lion sleep
His place gives way to timid sheep
Camellias bloom and petals fall
Winged ones fail the ear to call
Appetite like the moon wanes away
Little fears fill the night and day
Morning prayers weakly spoken
Dreams inside the night awaken
Forgotten childhood's loving lost
Longing family feelings past
Mighty steed slows down his pace
Mane grows grey, to pasture race
Garden blooms lie down their bed
Once fecund, now their leaves to shed
Who can tell the wind not to blow
The colder north no frost to show
Sooner stop the world from turning
Better stop the fish from swimming
The breath comes in and turns about
Heart marches on with legs once stout
Climb the way of snowcapped mountain
Flow against the river boatman
Each step is heavier on the path
The knife cuts an ever duller swath
Fuzzy fellows in the trees
Past the point where vision sees
Comes along the misty mind
Shady weeping willow kind
Lazy Political and spiritual reflections
Gone the hard chinese elections
Tired limbs pull on the sleigh
Comforting is the setting day
Little ones now all grown up
Testing lessons, jewels yet rough
Weaker hands fold and pray
More's the cost, Less the pay
Set about in and out
Meaningless to fight and shout
No time to listen less to care
All that's left is love to share.

The Well - with audio

audio link

The hollow self
Came off the shelf      
Hidden away
'Til season and day
Trade their grace
For cold embrace
Unhappy
Is the way
To Good
That has waned
Weak is the arm of
One who is stained
A misshapen heart
Drags down
Thistles and pain
O thirsty soul
'Tis water
That refreshes

Deep down, below
The watercresses
To the beating walls
Of empty caresses
Into the well
To make a splash
Slimy walls make
Sunbeams flash
Can't stay there,
Can't say where,
Damp moss
Is balderdash
Once inside,
The eyes,
They lied,
As the price
Was just too high
To winter in
The unseen water
No matter
What to justify

Then came winding,
The terrible
Sickening
Water snake
Having been denied
Pond or lake
To steal soul and pride
But voices called
Beyond the well
Sighed and cried
In they fell
Like knives,
Hit their mark and
Cut him up alive
That dank sound
Fell silent
In the round
Then quiet
Drew away
And was gone
As something else
Was shown
The water tried
To drink it up,
But filled
With hope
Inside was
The pale
To assail
Dark Jail and
So Catapulted
One assaulted
Sheltered
This floater
With cap
And ken
To the top

The well of that
Which is good
Does not
Run dry
Living water
Lifts high -
To the beloved
Drawing nigh

Coming home
To fire warm
And cheery eyes
Of lives inside
Once again,
Despair,
That wilted orchid
Lies dead
Outside

Shut up the Skies - with audio

 audio link

Where are the mighty men of old
Who shut up the skies so that the rains cannot come
The strong ones who burst the locks and chains
Of gloom in the hidden places
Who will heal the eyes of the feeble
That they may once again look upon fair Helena
What physician can heal the sick at heart
I hide away like Job from the stormy seas
Deep in the belly of the ship
For it comes upon me like the Dark clouds
Without reason or explanation, a howling wind
Slapping at the face of thankfulness
Blotting out the Sun of all that is precious and dear
Where shall one go to get away
What potion is there that will relieve meaningless anguish
Floods and channels without foundation
Whose hollow speeches threaten to carry off our very soul
So I leapt into the jaws of the great sea creature
There I sank ever downward toward my rest
Yet the thing of sadness followed me there
So I wept even while under the shroud of sleep
There did I toil on pillow and shake inside
I came to the surface of the waters many times
Only to drop once again like a struggling stone
The hail fell and the torrent poured
Filling up the earth's mouth till it was sated
Only then did this one rise again well enough
Rehearsing for another day
When Perfect Strength shall set us free
And nary a dark day ever dawn

The Blues and Autumn - with audio

audio link

Autumn came, and with it came the blues
Money trouble arrived with the cold wind
Finances blew away like the turning leaves
My mind and heart became grey with the skies
Mice and traps share my attic space
They conspire with sour stomach and restless shades
To keep me awake at 3 bells
So I take a pepcid and shuffle out of the bedroom
Then down the dark hall to the kitchen
There I have a tea and read the scriptures
These become my blanket and I pray
I pray for life, for family, the sick, government and religious leaders
I pray for people to turn toward G-d and
To remember compassion once again

Sigh, - ...sleep will come again friend
Like magic, the Fall brings back old voices, new fears
The cold doesn't wait for night, it comes by afternoon
It makes me thankful that there is greater reason for hope
Than what my eyes see, my ears hear and my hands can grasp
The feelings puff up my insides and threaten my eyes with tears
Thank God they don't come to fill up my furrowed brow
Like irrigation canals crossing this fallow field
Still that child who longs for the family time and tide of youth
Can find solace in the white and quiet of the biting snow moon
In that place, people and time are slowed -
Down to frozen crystalline stillness

Warmth then can return to inhabit the heart
Like cognac after a winter's embrace or handshake
Perhaps just a smile from a stranger, a kiss from a friend
Or a whiskey poured down the throat whilst fishing on an ice lake
My father's voice comes back to me, now like a flake of falling snow
Always carry a little change in your pocket for the stranger
A little compassion, a little compassion

The past and the present come together in Autumn
Do we cry for the present, are we sentimental about the past?
Or do they come to prepare, to make us mindful of the unseen, pristine,
Glowing diamond ship moving on oceans black?
There to fly the longest journey 'cross silent starlit sky
Sleep will come again my friend, sleep will come
In winter's brightest solitary night
Toward Affection's ultimate day.

Thoughts of You - with audio

audio link

Jasmine petals
Thoughts of you

Midnight dew
Days renew
Thoughts of you
Thoughts of you

Midday waves
Crashing down
Leaves of brown
Hot cracked summer ground
Thoughts of you

Lonely rose
Fragrance spend
Bee upon the diadem
Thoughts of you
Thoughts of you

Sounds of traffic
Rolling by
Heart that tracks
Across the sky
Thoughts of you

Sighs and Smiles
Days pretend
To forget
A tender hand
Thoughts of you
Thoughts of you

Nights shine dull
Moon in vain
Sleep undone
Rise again
To thoughts of you

Tasteless food
Careless wind
Seasons end
Then begin
Without you

Stark space
Empty chair
Cool dry
Autumn air

Little wings
Flutter by
Voices sing
Away on high

Soaring through
Blue expanse
Seeking there
Love's advance
Tumbling clouds...
and you perchance

Thoughts of you
Thoughts of you
Only you
Only thoughts
Of you

Where Fowl is Fair and a Hound's to Wonder - with audio

audio link

It’s a woman's world Cluck, cluck, cluck

It’s a woman’s world gobble gobble gobble

It’s a Woman's world chirp chirp chirp

Its for the the birds

How on earth did I wander in

How did I come to begin

I feel a little like Rin Tin Tin

Now it feels just like a sin

Bark bark, bark bark, bark bark bark

Stumbling through a hen house in the dark

It’s a woman's club cluck cluck cluck

It's a woman's club gobble gobble gobble

It’s a woman's club chirp chirp chirp

It's for the birds

Where a man‘s ascribed with voiceless guilt

Hounding the hound, like a longhair shirt

Left begging for scraps in the dirt

Like Mr. Rodgers, he eats milk toast

The members flee shadows and ghosts

Where fowl is fair, the effeminate boasts

It's a woman's klatch cluck cluck cluck

It's a woman's klatch gobble gobble gobble

It's a woman's klatch  chirp chirp chirp

It's for the birds

When chicken hawks fail the call
Shot down from clear blue skies they fall
Friendly canines stall and blunder

All chained up and torn asunder
Anything is possible in this brave new world
Where fowl is fair and a hound's to wonder

It's a woman's gaggle cluck cluck cluck

It's a woman's gaggle gobble gobble gobble

It's a woman's gaggle chirp chirp chirp

It's for the birds

How shall our friend not turn away

To live, bark and enemies slay 
To regard highly the fairer sex

Maintain his place as noble Rex
Take up the sword and save the day

Walk through the door, be on his way?
 

It's a woman's world cluck cluck cluck

It's a woman's world gobble gobble gobble

It's a woman's world chirp chirp chirp

It's for the birds

Cats meow, and horses neigh
Hens chase feed in hubbub heyday
Oh boy, Oh gee, Oh my, Oh me
Birds fly, flap, chirp and flee

Not to wonder, no reason why,
Only to pause, just to sigh
For a dog becomes a pest of a guest
When he makes his den in a bird's nest

Wag this tale - it's a woman's world Cluck cluck cluck
It's a woman's world gobble gobble gobble, 
It's a woman's world chirp chirp chirp
Woof Woof, Ruff Ruff, Bark Bark Bark
Its for the birds

Cooked Goose, Roast Duck, Barbecue Chicken?

HOT DOG!